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METADORUS AND CYRUS 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


A STORY OF MAGIC 

IN THE WORSHIP OF DIANA 

AND 

THE GOSPEL IN ASIA 


7 

DAVID BEATON 


BOSTON 

Ube pilgrim ipr ess 

CHICAGO 


25864 


Copyright, 1898, 
By David Beaton 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 


X'b'b o a 


PREFACE 


There is a certain fearful fascination about the 
subject of magic and the supernatural. We can 
have little idea in this nineteenth century how 
prevalent was the belief in the Black Art in the 
early days of Christianity. The story of Simon 
Magus was the dark romance of the first century. 
The riot connected with the worship of Diana and 
the burning of the books at Ephesus were two of 
the most important events in the life of Paul. 
The gospels, when carefully read with this fact of 
their early history in mind, are seen to be satu- 
rated with references to magic. The subject is too 
much neglected by Christian teachers. We need 
more light on it. Impostors to-day are getting the 
ear of the people through appeals to spiritualism 
and mystery as they did in the darkest pre-chris- 
tian ages. Magic is non-progressive, being the 
same to-day as three thousand years ago. Its 
methods are essentially vulgar and degrading. 
Christian youths in our schools ought to know the 
difference between the imposture of the charlatan 
and the open reasonableness of the supernatural 
power of Jesus. This is the object of Cyrus the 
Magician. D. B. 


3 



CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE ... 7 

II. A PAST MASTER 24 

III. IOLE THE ORACLE . . . .43 

IV. THE YOUNG MASTER . . . .61 

Y. THE HALL OF MAGIC . . . .72 

VI. STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER . 92 

VII. THE MARTYR’S CROWN . . .117 

VIII. FOUND AND LOST .... 134 

IX. SIMON’S TRIUMPHS .... 141 

X. SIMON DEFIED 150 

XI. LIGHT IN THE PRISON . . . 160 

XII. A FALSE MOVE 171 

XIII. SIMON’S HUMILIATION . . . 181 

XIV. SIMON’S REVENGE . , . .191 

XV. HOME AGAIN 199 

XVI. THE LIVING PRESENCE . . . 207 

XVII. IN THE LIGHT 217 

XVIII. CYRUS IN A NEW ROLE . . . 225 

XIX. THE STRUGGLE OF THE GIANTS . 230 

xx. rhoda’s reward .... 235 
XXI. THE HOLOCAUST OF MAGIC . . 239 


5 



CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


CHAPTER I 

EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 

One morning in early spring, an old man and a 
youth entered by the Magnesian Gate into the 
city of Ephesus. The face of Metadorus, the old 
magician, was lighted up with a smile of gratified 
ambition. Cyrus, his son, was gazing around at 
the objects of interest, the crowds and the gaiety 
of the scene. He could not conceal his pleasure ; 
he was asking his father a hundred questions in a 
minute. The soldiers, the athletes, the priests 
and the sailors, as well as the stately buildings, all 
furnished him with questions. 

“ Be patient, my son : all will come in good 
time ; though I am not surprised at your interest, 
for there is not in broad Asia another sight like 
this.” 

“ Is there something unusual going on to-day, 
father ? Who are these in the procession ? Where 
are the soldiers going ? ” 

“ One thing at a time. There is nothing un- 
7 


8 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


usual. This is the ordinary life of Ephesus and 
the worship of the great Diana. But we are just 
in time to see something unusual, for this is the 
month Artemesion, and we shall see the games of 
Artemesia and such processions in honor of the 
goddess as no other city in the world can furnish. 
Look well at what you see around you, my boy. 
This is the renowned Ephesus, famous for war and 
learning, as well as the patroness of athletics and 
magic. Were I to repeat all her titles, you would 
think your father had turned rhetorician and had 
forgotten his wisdom. This place is the goal of 
our desires, for here the worshiper is not con- 
tented with killing cattle like a butcher, but gen- 
erously patronizes the possessor of secret knowl- 
edge. Here our Median predecessors for many 
years have been welcome prophets to interpret 
the meaning of the signs to the worshipers of the 
great Diana. But let us find our lodgings, for I 
expect to meet Simon near the Odeon on this side 
of the city.” 

While the old man was expatiating on the 
glories of Ephesus, Cyrus was looking around, his 
eyes filled with ever-changing expressions of 
pleasure. They had come up close to one of the 
smaller gymnasia with which the city was filled, 
and the sight here especially attracted the boy’s 
attention. Looking through the open porticoes, 
he saw within, among trees and shrubbery, ele- 
gantly dressed youths sauntering up and down 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


9 


talking in an excited manner, with lively gestures 
toward an open space in the center. From some 
points he caught sight of old men and other 
youths sitting on chairs watching the athletic con- 
tests in the stadium. The whole scene was so full 
of life and color that Cyrus eagerly requested to 
be allowed to enter. 

“ Not yet, my son, not yet ; do n’t hurry your- 
self about this at all. Nothing unusual is going 
on just now. This is all new to you, but be 
patient. You will see these contests again and 
again. Some windbag of an orator is spouting 
his piece, perhaps : or, worse still, some self-con- 
ceited poet is boring his audience with his silly 
verses. You do n’t want to waste your time over 
fools like those. Worst of all, you may be caught 
in the wind-storm of a politician’s speech. No, 
Cyrus ; we will choose our company, for there is 
plenty of it here, and find out where they are dis- 
cussing the approaching festivals of the goddess, 
and learn, if we can, whether there is any new 
knowledge from the East. I think Simon and I 
will be able to give the priests something new : 
and if they have anything more wonderful in 
magic than we can show them I shall be eager to 
see it.” 

The old magician was evidently so engrossed 
with his own professional interests that he did not 
make any allowance for the natural curiosity of 
the boy. Seeing a look of disappointment on the 


10 


CYRUS TEE MAGICIAN 


lad’s face, he added, “Don’t be impatient, my 
son, I will show you all there is to see presently. 
I can assure you there is nothing unusual going 
on just now.” 

While Metadorus and Cyrus are finding a lodg- 
ing, look around and see the outward appearance 
of this metropolis of Asia. Standing on the lower 
slopes of Mount Prion, the eye is arrested by the 
bright yellow blossoms of the angelica, which 
covers Mount Coressus, in the center of the city. 
In the foreground at our feet is the great agora 
or market-place filled with a lively throng of buy- 
ers and sellers and workmen and loungers. A 
little toward the left and just under the slopes of 
Mount Coressus is the great theater, perhaps the 
largest ever built, and capable of holding about 
thirty thousand people. This building is to be 
memorable in the days to come as the scene of 
one of the most dramatic events in the history of 
Ephesus, for, later, here for the space of two hours 
the fanatical worshipers of the great goddess cried 
out “ Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” Beside 
this theater is the great gymnasium of the theater, 
where all the luxurious accompaniments of the 
palaestra and the bath are to be enjoyed. Still 
toward the left and on the west is the city port, a 
large basin where the navies of the East often find 
shelter, and where the merchant ships come in 
such numbers as to make Ephesus one of the 
greatest trade emporiums of the East. Close be- 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


11 


side the port, which is surrounded with a magnifi- 
cent colonnade, stands the large gymnasium, and 
back of that toward the east is the forum, the civil 
center of the life of Ephesus. The plain on which 
the city stands is crowded with splendid public 
buildings, mostly gymnasia, temples and theaters, 
while toward the northeast stands the Great 
Stadium, and further still the eye is arrested by a 
rocky height, at the base of which stands one of 
the seven wonders of the world. 

No language can describe the marvelous per- 
fection of this gem of art. The eighth and 
last temple of Diana rises from the plain like a 
dream in stone. Guarded by the rocks behind, 
which enfold it like the sheltering arms of a 
lover, it seems a vision so ethereal, mingling with 
the clear blue above, that the beholder gazes 
breathless lest it should vanish in air. One 
hundred graceful pillars, twenty-seven of which 
were the gift of kings, bear up its sculptured 
frieze and pediments. On the east and west these 
pillars are sculptured in high relief by the hands 
of masters. On the frieze, like a panorama of 
real life, are carved the history and mythology of 
Greece and Asia ; and the fronts are adorned with 
sculptures representing leading events in the his- 
tory of the goddess Diana. Within this wondrous 
fane the most famous architects, painters, and 
sculptors have lavished all their art to adorn the 
abode of the world-venerated Diana. Here are 


12 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


statues by Phidias, paintings by Apelles and vo- 
tive offerings given by the great men of Greece 
and the East to the tutelary deity of Ephesus. 

But the most marvelous thing about this tem- 
ple, reared by the art of Greece and the riches 
of Asia, is the" statue of the great Diana herself. 
It is but a shapeless block of ebony wood covered 
in part with gold ; but it is held in deepest rever- 
ence by the Ephesians and all Asia as the statue 
which fell down from Jupiter. On this mystical 
statue — a shapeless, hideous block — centers the 
learning and reverence and fanaticism of the East. 
To its worship comes the sailor, the merchant, the 
soldier, the Asiatic, the Greek, the Roman, the 
orator, the poet, the painter, the statesman. The 
Persian satrap, the Roman general, the Asiatic 
kings, the most famous men in ancient history 
have worshiped here — Alexander, Darius, Antony, 
Cleopatra, Sulla, and Caesar; for it is the meeting- 
place of the power and learning and faith of the 
East and the West. Diana sits thus supreme, 
whom all Asia and the world worships. 

The fame of this sacred shrine, the wealth of 
the temple and the grandeur of the ceremonies 
have attracted, among so many others who are 
seeking pleasure and fortune, Metadorus and Cy- 
rus the magician, the hero of our story. 

A rumor had obtained currency in the far East 
of late that unusual events were occurring in the 
West, and Metadorus, who was ambitious for his 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


13 


son, had resolved to come to Ephesus as the most 
likely place to discover the cause of the rumor, as 
well as because of the fame of Ephesus and the 
favorable reception which all magicians met there 
from the priests of Diana. He had been encour- 
aged in this plan also b} r the rumors of a journey 
to Syria made by some of the Magi of his own 
country whose report had filled the ears of the 
people with great expectations from the birth of a 
new King of the Jews. Simon Magus, one of the 
most celebrated Jewish magicians, whose acquaint- 
ance Metadorus had made in Alexandria, also en- 
couraged the old man to come west to meet him 
in Ephesus. He was now waiting for Simon in 
the city, and was hoping for great things from him. 

His expectations of a generous reception from 
both the people and the priests were well grounded. 
The faith of the Greek and Roman peoples in the 
ancient gods was all but dead. The great temples, 
like that at Ephesus, whose worship was intimately 
connected with the wealth and power of the city, 
were still frequented by multitudes of worshipers, 
but there was an unrest and an eagerness for some- 
thing new that plainly betrayed the loss of the old 
confidence. The priests were glad to get help 
from the magicians in the working of those won- 
ders which attracted and fascinated the people. 
Superstition must now be supported by magical 
wonders to still the clamor of the soul. The 
rumor in the East of the strange events in Jerusa- 


14 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


lem had brought the Jewish soothsayers and ma- 
gicians into great repute. A few years before the 
time of our tale Ephesus had been the scene of 
some of the greatest miracles of the century. At 
the temple of Hecate and in the great theater, 
Apollonius had done great wonders and reestab- 
lished the confidence of the people in many of the 
ceremonies connected with the old religion. From 
all these things Metadorus knew that Ephesus and 
Simon offered him the best chance of establishing 
himself and his son in the practice of his pro- 
fession. 

He was concerned also about Cyrus. He was 
the son of his old age and the old man had a pre- 
sentiment that he might die before Cyrus could be 
made a master magician. Metadorus was proud 
of his birth and pedigree, prouder than many 
priests, prouder than some kings. He was a 
Median by descent, and as far back as he could 
trace his genealogy his ancestors had been Magi. 
From them had come down to him a great fund 
of knowledge ; and his son Cyrus had inherited 
the magical skill of his race. It was as natural 
for Cyrus to do certain tricks of legerdemain as it 
is for the child of a race of musicians or paint- 
ers to manifest the artistic instinct. Besides all 
this, there had been accumulated in the family 
not only this vast amount of magical skill, but 
knowledge of nature, birds, minerals, animals, 
signs of life, natural aspects, weather, auguries, 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


15 


and states of the human mind, which to ordinary 
people was little short of miraculous. The hopes 
of the old man centered in his son, the pride of 
his race, and the glory of his profession as well as 
his own fatherly tenderness for the son of his 
age were all bound up in Cyrus. He was con- 
fident that if his own life should be cut off before 
Cyrus was established as a master in his pro- 
fession, he could reveal such secrets to Simon, 
and endow Cyrus with such apparatus for his 
profession as would secure the adoption and co- 
partnership of Cyrus with Simon. With such an 
outlook Cyrus found himself in the center of life 
and action where so much was happening to excite 
the curiosity of a lively, observing youth. 

According to promise Metadorus took him to 
one of the gymnasia to see the life of the city. 
Cyrus here enjoyed the luxury of those baths for 
which Ephesus at this time was famous. He was 
first led to the dressing room, whence, having dis- 
robed, he proceeded to the tepidarium. There, in 
the slightly warmer atmosphere, he was anointed 
by the aliptse. From this room he was taken to 
the calidarium or hot room, where the luxurious 
and enervating hot bath is given. After finishing 
this he was allowed to cool off gradually and then 
taken to the frigidarium, where the water poured 
over him was first warm, then tepid, then cold. 
The process was not yet completed, however, for 
now he was scraped, rubbed and anointed with 


16 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


oil. Dressed at last in one of the rich colored 
robes of the East, he soon found himself among 
the other youths in the colonnade surrounding 
the gardens and stadium. 

Metadorus, who wanted to be near the philos- 
ophers and teachers who were sitting on the 
sloping steps and hearing lessons, or criticising 
orations, hailed Cyrus to come where he was. 

“ You see that fine fellow in the stadium, 
Cyrus,” said the old man, “ he on the right. 
Watch him ! He has been a victor in twenty 
wrestling bouts. He is not so very much stronger 
than all who have met him, but they say he car- 
ries a secret charm about him and repeats it in 
the ring. And I can tell you what it is, or I am 
no magician ! ” 

“ What is it then ? ” said Cyrus, in considerable 
wonder at this evidence of the old magician’s 
penetration. 

“ If the truth were known, my son, you would 
find him muttering the Ephesian Letters, while he 
struggles with his antagonist.” 

“ But if his opponent found that out he would 
assuredly be worsted,” replied Cyrus. 

“ Quite true,” responded Metadorus, “ but when 
we sell the Letters to a man we take care that no 
one does find it out. You see even athletes can- 
not get along without the Magi’s wisdom.” 

Cyrus looked with a great deal of interest upon 
the young athlete so pointed out. His antago- 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


17 


nist was a man of larger frame, but they were 
well matched. The user of the secret spell ap- 
proached with an air of great confidence, and, 
sure enough, Cyrus observed his lips moving, 
though if his attention had not been called to the 
circumstance he would never have noticed it. 
The contestants caught, swayed, struggled and 
fell, and Cyrus looked on with eager eye to note 
whether his champion had won. 

“What did I tell you, Cyrus?” said Metadorus. 
“ That big bull will need more than brute strength 
to win a bout from the man who speaks the power- 
ful spell of the Ephesian Letters.” 

The contest was continued, but with the same 
result ; Mentor won again and again. 

“ Look around you, Cyrus ; see the fine robes of 
these elegant youths, their delicate slippers, and 
their skin shining with ointment. Notice also 
that the fellows who are getting ready for the 
discus and the ball are chewing onions, munching 
cheese, eating raw eggs, sucking shell-fish and 
quaffing the rich Chian. That is for a special 
purpose, I can tell you ; but, most important of 
all, if you could see under the cloak of some of 
the most knowing ones you would find the 
Ephesian Letters of good omen sewn in little 
bags of leather.” 

“ Why, then, if they are so powerful,” said Cyrus, 
“ do n’t all combatants wear them ? ” 

“Spoken like a little boy who does not know 
2 


18 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


much,” was the cutting reply of Metadorus. 
“Know you not, Cyrus, that some people have 
no faith in the magician? They won’t pay his 
price and do n’t even know enough to ask for in- 
formation. These smart youths will know more 
by and by. When they find they can’t win a 
single game they will come to us before long and 
ask the reason.” 

Cyrus could hear the old man mutter some- 
thing in Greek which sounded something like 
“ Askion Kataskion Litz” (Light, darkness, earth, 
water), and ending in an inarticulate mumbling. 

“But tell me a little more about the Ephesian 
Letters, father. They must surely be a very pow- 
erful spell in the city of Ephesus itself.” 

“ Presently, my son ; you cannot be told every- 
thing right off, even though you are the descend- 
ant of Magi; but here in the worship of Diana we 
shall learn much to help you to understand the 
secret power of Nature. When you see that im- 
age of the goddess, revered from the most ancient 
times by so many peoples, you will be fascinated 
like the rest, seeking to withdraw her veil and 
learn her secret, and she will reply, ‘ I am every- 
thing that has been, that is, and that shall be, and 
no mortal has ever yet been able to withdraw my 
veil.’ But this,” continued Metadorus, “is a little 
in advance of our present program ; let us at 
present observe the contestants.” 

The athletes who had meanwhile finished their 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


19 


ball and quoit games crowded up with the onlook- 
ers round the exedrse where the teachers and phi- 
losophers were seated to hear an oratorical con- 
test. 

“ They are mouthers,” whispered Metadorus to 
Cyrus, in contempt of the orators. “ They can’t 
do anything like athletes, and they do n’t know 
anything like magicians ; they are mere spouters 
and posers to catch the ears of the people — a voice 
and nothing more.” 

It might be suspected from the old magician’s 
sarcastic reference to the orators that they were 
the magicians’ greatest rivals for the people’s 
favor; and so it was. Those now contesting soon 
proved themselves masters of the tongue and were 
swaying the light-hearted and vain crowd at their 
pleasure. One, who spoke upon the glory of Di- 
ana, the virgin goddess, and the strength and per- 
manence of her reign, soon had the crowd stamp- 
ing and shouting like men possessed. Cyrus no- 
ticed among the epithets which he used to describe 
Diana, these words, “The resplendent one,” “girt 
with fire,” “the deliverer of- Asia,” “the far darting 
avenger,” “the splendor-bearing goddess of the 
burning eyes,” but when he described her as the 
“ Glory and Protector of Ephesus,” “ who brings 
the world to our city to worship,” the enthusiasm 
of the crowd knew no bounds, and the orator was 
lifted in triumph on the shoulders of the youths 
and carried to the judges’ seat to receive the prize. 


20 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


The whole body of the prize-winners now filed be- 
fore the judges and were crowned with garlands. 

The procession of the athletes, orators, poets and 
philosophers had hardly been formed at the great 
gymnasium, when the music of another procession 
was heard from the forum immediately behind 
them. Out of the forum came a military caval- 
cade, horse and foot, the proconsul at their head 
accompanied by a distinguished citizen who was 
evidently the object of special honor. They took 
the road by the Great Stadium and the Coressian 
Gate to the temple, the athletes and philosophers 
following in their rear. The military procession 
and its distinguished guest were on the way to the 
temple to consecrate a votive tablet in pursuance 
of the vote of the city council. It had been moved 
by Dion, the son of Andron, that as Agathocles 
had imported and sold wheat to the Ephesians 
under market price, that the council and people 
grant citizenship to Agathocles, son of Plato, and 
that he be admitted to a tribe and a thousand : 
and he was accordingly admitted to the Bambi- 
nean tribe and to the Agostean thousand. 

To the temple this civil procession was now 
winding its way so as to inscribe on the appropri- 
ate tablet and erect in its sacred wall the record 
of honor to the man who had benefited Ephesus. 

“Said I not you should see life here, Cyrus? 
Everything great and wise and gifted comes hither 
to the great Diana.” 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


21 


Cyrus was as yet not so much interested in the 
meaning of the function as in the sight itself. They 
were now approaching the temple and passing the 
smaller temples on the way. Metadorus directed 
the attention of Cyrus to the temple of Hecate, 
a favorite scene of magical incantations. Cyrus, 
now strung to a pitch of fanatical excitement by 
the music and the dancing girls, and the priests 
who had come forth to meet them, looked for the 
first time on the matchless beauty of the temple. 
Its stately proportions, its sculptured richness, 
and the graceful elegance of the pillars especially 
fascinated him ; for its Ionic lightness and deli- 
cacy affected the feelings like the beauty of a 
woman. Under the clear sky, in dazzling light, 
yet with a spring softness, the temple was worthy, 
thought Cyrus, of all its world- wide praise. 

“ I shall soon be part of this joy and power,” 
he thought, and his heart was moved to gratitude 
to the great Diana. 

Metadorus felt satisfied with the first day’s ex- 
periences in the great city. “ You shall be some- 
thing better and nobler in Ephesus, Cyrus, than 
even the honored Agathocles, who has received 
the freedom of the city to-day,” said Metadorus, 
as they returned home. “ He has done only what 
a rich man can do ; and he gets his tablet, as he 
ought: but a magician can rule priests, and it is 
notorious that priests can rule kings. While on 
our way to the temple I saw a score of chanoes 


22 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


for my skill, and could have done such things as 
would have made the stupid crowd stare ; but all 
in good time. We must not open out our wares 
too soon. Simon will be here presently and 
deeper plans can be laid for conquest.” 

With such dreams of power and wealth for 
himself and his boy the old magician waited for 
his great contemporary, Simon Magus. Cyrus, in- 
troduced into this new world with such novelties 
and fascinations for a youth, could hardly eat or 
sleep. At night he dreamed of going by himself 
alone and seeking that dread mystery in the inner 
sanctuary of the temple. At one time the figure 
of the half-barbarous Oriental goddess smiled 
down upon him, as if welcoming her own child, 
and he thought she was about to withdraw her veil 
and show him her mystic beauty ; then suddenly 
the air was rent by a horrible shriek, the earth 
trembled beneath him, and the lightnings flashed 
from the fire-darting eyes of the goddess. He 
awoke with a gasp of horror and alarm ; and al- 
though he could hear the regular breathing of his 
father, in the adjoining cubiculum, for the rest of 
the night he never closed his eyes. 

To the soothsayer and interpreter of dreams 
this vision was a dread omen. The change of 
feeling on the part of the goddess toward her 
devotee was especially threatening. However lie 
explained the vision to himself, Cyrus saw only 
disaster of some sort in it. Morning, though it 


EPHESUS IN HER PRIDE 


23 


brought the sweet light and the kindly faces of 
youth, could not entirely relieve Cyrus of the 
dread of the vision of the night. The sight of 
the great city once more returning to its sports 
and pleasures filled the young magician with a 
strange terror ; for he recognized all these men 
and women as votaries of the great goddess whose 
frown had so shaken his soul in the watches of the 
night. But he was resolved to redouble his devo- 
tion to Diana, and lay the treasures of his Median 
magic as well as the loyalty of his young heart at 
her feet. Had he not been told that no offering 
was so grateful to Diana as the first love of a 
young man’s heart? He was afraid to tell his 
father of his dream. He did not like to appear 
superstitious himself ; that was too like the vulgar 
crowd. He liked less to be unable to give a sat- 
isfactory interpretation ; that looked as if he were 
no master of his craft : so he kept the secret in 
his own bosom. He greatly pleased his father, 
however, by proposing a special visit to the temple 
and the carrying of a special offering to Diana on 
his own behalf, as a young magician, for her favor 
in their present plans. 


CHAPTER II 


A PAST MASTER 

While Cyrus was propitiating the favor of the 
goddess with whose worship his life was to be so 
intimately connected in the future, the Jewish 
magician, whose coming Metadorus was now im- 
patiently waiting, drew near to the city from the 
sea. Simon Magus was a past master of his art, 
and had learned all that the mixed magic of Greek 
and Jew could teach him in the schools of Alex- 
andria. He was eager to meet the masters from 
the farther East. He valued highly the special 
powers of the Persian and Indian magicians, and 
was convinced that his former companion, Meta- 
dorus, was now in a position to greatly help him. 
Momentous events in his own country had taught 
him that the people were in expectation and ready 
to give credence to the wise, strong man. 

Simon was such a man. His face had a 
strongly marked Jewish cast, but was softened 
with lines of Greek refinement and acuteness. 
He might have been described as a mixture of 
Jewish rabbi and Greek sophist. But a close 
observer would have seen in the fierce eyes, 
lighted up now and again with a fanatical fire, 
24 


A PAST MASTER 


25 


that the real man within was an Oriental zealot. 
As he looked upon the procession of worshipers, 
the reverence of the people for the goddess, and 
the signs of priestly power and wealth on every 
side in Ephesus, he felt elated at his own prospects 
of success. He looked upon a superstitious crowd 
as his natural prey. He had hardly less contempt 
for the indolent priests, of whose dense ignorance 
of magic he was well aware. He felt secure in 
the possession of knowledge and skill that would 
open the doors of wealth and power like a magic 
key. 

At his first visit to the temple on this occasion, 
Simon again feasted his eyes upon its artistic 
beauties, for the Greek in him was gratified with 
the aesthetic and sensuous splendors of the archi- 
tectural masterpiece. As he entered and mingled 
among the worshipers his Oriental fanaticism was 
again roused, and his superstitious reverence for 
the occult mystery hid behind that veil came upon 
him in great force. “ What,” thought he to him- 
self as he looked around on the awe-struck vota- 
ries, “ might not come to the master whose magical 
powers can command this ancient secret?” 

As he mused in this manner and saw at close 
range the bungling acts of many of the lower 
orders of priests doing tricks that he despised, and 
saw how even these were gaped at by the multi- 
tude, he felt a genuine Jewish contempt for the 
Gentile dogs. His Jewish force of will and am- 


26 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


bition sent him to his lodging resolved to act 
boldly. His carriage and glance gave him an air 
of distinction in any company ; among the crowds 
of the Magnesian Road he was a man of marked 
personality. He had come to Ephesus as a well- 
trained athlete came to Olympia looking for the 
laurels of victory. He knew that in the treasuries 
of the temple of Diana were stored the riches of 
Asia, and it was his firm resolve to unlock those 
doors and turn some of the contents into his own 
bag. He was as unscrupulous as he was clever ; 
as clear and definite in his plans as he was re- 
sourceful in their execution. If a rich, luxurious 
priesthood, anxious for their own hold of power, 
and a fanatical superstitious people, intoxicated 
with zeal for their own patron deity, afforded him 
a good field for action, he knew he had found all 
this in Ephesus. 

As Simon has now established his household 
near the Magnesian Gate, let us look into the 
house of magic controlled by him. He was no 
vagabond exorcist, without following or influence, 
but had a large establishment of servants and fol- 
lowers, and was possessed of every appliance which 
the wisdom and ingenuity of the age afforded for 
the practice of the mystical arts. 

One member of his establishment we are partic- 
ularly interested in. Several years before, when in 
Alexandria consulting with another famous magi- 
cian, Simon had receiyed from him a young Greek 


A PAST MASTER 


27 


girl, Iole by name, whose powers as a medium or 
oracle were declared by Tresmegistus to be of the 
highest order. The secret of her origin and early 
training was securely guarded by Simon, and he 
had carefully trained her for the work which even 
at that time he was looking forward to. Iole was 
a typical Greek maiden, with a rich creamy com- 
plexion and dark, brilliant eyes that shone out 
upon the onlooker with a clear, open glance. Her 
hair and eyebrows were black as a raven’s wing, 
and her teeth rows of shining pearls ; but all this 
rich dower of racial beauty was outshone by the 
gracious smile that lighted up her face like sun- 
shine whenever some kind word was spoken to 
the motherless girl or some noble thought kindled 
the fire in her eyes. 

A very ordinary observer might see that Iole 
was different from other girls of her age ; she had 
the patient, tender manner that comes so often to 
the young who are burdened beyond their years. 
She was robbed of her youth : the light-hearted, 
innocent laughter of a happy heart that is shel- 
tered by home and mother was never hers. The 
demands of the heathen worship and the practice 
of magic for the superstitious had stolen the 
gaiety of youth and the warm, genial disposition 
of a free spirit out of her life. Yet she was jeal- 
ously guarded by Simon from all intrusion and in- 
sult. She was his gifted oracle and prophetess, 
and much of his future distinction depended on 


28 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


lier abilities. Nor was she morbid or despondent, 
for she believed in herself as a divinely gifted 
medium and in a special sense the mouthpiece of 
the gods. She was educated far beyond what was 
common for girls in those days and shared with 
Simon for years the lessons of his profession. 

During their residence in Alexandria, while 
these lessons were going on, and while she was 
not often on public exhibition, the life of Iole was 
quite pleasant and the deep fountains of her heart 
had not yet opened up. She came to Ephesus 
with some little anxiety ; she had heard of its 
fame, and learned of Simon that his plans were 
now of a bolder and more open sort. Her own 
character was now more matured ; she was begin- 
ning to think of the meaning of many of the 
oracular messages she received in her visions and 
the strange events of her past life. Her heart too 
began now to long as it had never done for friend- 
ship and mother love. She felt her loneliness as 
never before. Although she came in contact, as 
few others of her age did, with the worship and 
priests of the gods, she was often weary at heart 
for some motion of divine love, some gleam of 
light to show her the way to walk and the mean- 
ing of her own life. Yet with the gracious pa- 
tience of a woman she was bearing up bravely., 
even happily, and Simon had little concern about 
her condition when he began his campaign in 
Ephesus. 


A PAST MASTER 


29 


When Metadorus and Cyrus visited Simon, both 
became at once deeply interested in the girl, but 
for very different reasons. To Metadorus the 
presence of Iole in the same household where 
Cyrus his son was to reside was a matter of the 
deepest moment. It might exercise the most 
dangerous influence upon him in his future 
career, for as a magician he must be the devoted 
bridegroom of his art, and were his mind unsettled 
by this girl it would be fatal to his entire devotion 
to his profession. To Cyrus, Iole was a new and 
strange experience. Reared by his father in strict 
seclusion and without any sisters or female com- 
panions, Cyrus had known nothing of their friend- 
ship or influence. She met them with a sweet, 
grave smile that charmed Cyrus and partly dis- 
armed Metadorus. 

When Iole learned that this youth and his 
father were to make their home with Simon, she 
blessed the gods. She looked upon Cyrus from 
the first as a brother and companion from whom 
she could get sympathy and help. She was now 
no longer friendless ; her lonely heart warmed to 
him, for she felt instinctively that he was sent to 
teach her many things. 

Iole was seated among the cushions in the 
“ Hall of Magic ” which had been fitted up for 
the great evocations of Simon. Beside her, an at- 
tendant slave girl was working with her on a piece 
of embroidery for the magical apparatus. Cyrus 


30 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


admired the sumptuous fittings of the place and 
the elegant apparatus of Simon ; but he was af- 
fected most deeply by the home feeling that came 
over his heart as he saw those girls at their dainty 
occupations, with such an air of peace and sweet- 
ness. 

“ I feared coming to Ephesus, Cyrus,” Iole be- 
gan, “but I am sure I shall never regret it, now 
that we have found such good friends here.” 

“ I have been delighted already with what we 
have seen in Ephesus,” replied^ Cyrus, “the games, 
and the theater and the temple. There is so much 
to be seen and great things to be done in our pro- 
fession. Perhaps you do n’t know that Simon is 
one of the greatest men in the craft of magic to- 
day ; at least, so nry father has told me. I expect 
to be made a master magician as soon as my father 
and Simon arrange their partnership ; and then 
nothing shall be hid from me of all their secrets.” 

Iole watched the enthusiasm of Cyrus for his 
craft, and felt a kindred glow; but she was some- 
what piqued that he had not replied more directly 
to her expressions of friendship. His pleasure in 
her company, however, was evidently so genuine, 
though unconscious, that she thought more of him 
than if he had protested that her presence in 
Ephesus was more than athletes or dancing girls 
or magicians, more than gaiety, or love of fame. 

While the young people were telling each other 
of their past life, and Cyrus was investigating with 


A PAST MASTER 


31 


Iole the fitting of Simon’s Hall of Magic, Meta- 
dorus was pouring out into Simon’s ear the hopes 
of an old, ambitious, but doting father concerning 
his boy. 

“ I can assure you, Metadorus, that Cyrus shall 
be well cared for, and whatever my fortune he 
shall share my honors and wealth equally. As 
for Iole, she is a discreet, quiet girl, who has 
never given me any trouble and is proud of her 
role of oracle. She is a girl of gifts, too, and I 
should be able to do very little of the higher kind 
of work without her. Her head is in no danger 
of being turned by the presence of a youth, even 
one as handsome as Cyrus, and it looks to me as 
if they were more likely to feel like brother and 
sister than like lovers.” 

“ I trust it will turn out as you believe,” replied 
Metadorus, “for Cyrus is a studious youth, and 
ambitious ; but he has had no experience of the 
presence of such a companion in the house, and 
no one can tell what hidden fires may be under 
the snow.” 

“Dismiss your fears for the present, at least, 
my old friend ; and let us clearly understand our 
relations to one another. I suppose you are sat- 
isfied that in committing Cyrus to me you have 
done the best for his future career; and that, un- 
til he is made a master, I shall have the entire 
control of his life in case of your death before 
that event ? ” 


32 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“ Simon,” said the aged magician, with a stately 
gesture, as if recollecting the long line of magi 
from whom he was descended, “it is an unusual 
thing for a Median of my birth to ally himself 
with one of your race ; but I recognize in you a 
master in whom the wisdom of the East and West 
are combined ; and with my secrets and Cyrus’ 
skill, for that is wonderful, you may united be a 
power to captivate, not only Ephesus, but Rome. 
I feel that I am growing old and am unable to go 
with the boy from place to place; nay, perhaps 
‘ the terror ’ may find me before my son has been 
made a master, and I can safely commit him into 
your hands.” Metadorus took a ring from his 
finger on which was engraved in a splendid em- 
erald the sign of King Solomon. “ Take this,” 
said the old man ; “ it is fitting that this pledge 
of the compact between us, the Median and the 
Jew, should have the sign of the greatest Jew 
who ever befriended our craft and knew so many 
of its secrets.” 

Simon was not an impressionable man, but 
though his heart was not touched, his imagination 
kindled at the thought of possessing a talisman of 
such great antiquity and notorious power as the 
famous “ Emerald Seal of Solomon.” 

Cyrus, for whose future all these plans were 
being made, was a youth of about nineteen years 
of age, of a slight, elegant figure rather above 
middle height, with a dark olive complexion. His 


A PAST MASTER 


33 


Medo-Persian blood could be distinctly traced, bis 
eyes, a very dark bronze, being mild and dreamy. 
He had not the quick, alert movement of the 
Greek nor the aggressive boldness of the Roman, 
but had a quiet dignity about his movements, as 
if under a slight constraint among strangers. His 
sole companion had been his father, the old ma- 
gician. He had not the free action and self-confi- 
dent manners of the boy who plays with his equals 
and knows himself at home ; he was rather on his 
guard, anxious to make a good impression for him- 
self among strangers. Yet there was nothing 
stagey or artificial in his actions. Serious he was, 
as might be expected from one so secluded and 
trained for such a profession, but he was a healthy, 
honest-hearted youth, ready to enjoy life and 
make friends, as his first appearance in the gym- 
nasium at Ephesus showed. Like all Orientals 
he loved bright colors, display and the pomp and 
elegance of the festivals and temple worship ; and 
as his father’s son he entertained great ambitions. 
Riches and power and honor, he believed, all lay 
at his command in the line of his profession. He 
was looking forward with intense interest to the 
approaching festival of Artemesia, when the great 
Diana of Ephesus would be crowned amid the 
pomp and grandeur of the East and West, and he 
expected that Simon and himself would take a 
conspicuous position in that great pageant. The 
Artemesia was no local display merely, but was in- 


34 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


deed the great festival at which the whole world 
officiated. The entire month of Artemesion was 
set apart for the various shows and sports, panto- 
mimes and Phyrric dances, along with the more 
strictly religious processions and ceremonies. 
During this month of revelry and license, the 
people were ready for every kind of excitement, 
either cruel sport or superstitious incantations by 
the magicians. 

A few weeks after the arrival of Simon, while a 
great procession of military men and athletes were 
getting ready in the great forum, and Simon and 
his assistants were practising their arts near by 
in the stadium of the great gymnasium among a 
crowd of Jews, Greeks and others, much excite- 
ment was caused by a demoniac who ran tearing 
and yelling among the people. 

“Bring him to Simon,” was the cry from every 
throat. They brought the frightened, demented 
youth to the magician. His assistants demanded 
space, and the crowd pressed back. One placed a 
bowl of water at a little distance while two others 
held the raving youth. Simon then came forward 
in a robe of purple with the emerald ring on which 
was engraved the mystic “ Sign of Solomon,” and 
in which there was a root of one of the herbs 
mentioned by Solomon, and placing his right hand 
firmly on the youth’s shoulder bade him in a 
kindly but firm tone look upon him. He then 
held the ring to the nostrils of the youth and com- 


A PAST MASTER 


35 


manded the spirit to come out of him, drawing the 
ring away and thus drawing the demon through 
his nostrils. The youth fell down immediately, 
and Simon adjured the demon to return no more 
into him, reciting meanwhile the incantations of 
Solomon. He then turned to the place where 
stood the basin of water, and commanded the de- 
mon to overturn it to show the people that he had 
come out of the man. The basin was overturned 
and the water spilled. At this a great shout rent 
the air, and the Jews, especially, who had recog- 
nized the name of Solomon, and knew Simon to be 
a countryman, praised him as the greatest ma- 
gician in Ephesus. In this way Simon’s preten- 
sions were brought to the notice of the chief priest 
or Megabyzus of the temple of Diana ; and he and 
Cyrus were invited to take part in the principal 
procession of the Artemesia. 

At last the day dawned to which Cyrus had 
been looking forward with such eagerness. It 
was early spring, and the sun in the clear blue 
sky shone down on the bright yellow angelicas 
that glittered like gold on Mount Coressus. The 
streets and forums and gymnasia were swarming 
with soldiers, citizens, athletes, merchants and 
mountebanks of all sorts. 

“ You seem particularly happy to-day, Cyrus,” 
said Iole to him that morning. “ I hope you will 
spend a pleasant day.” There was a note of re- 
gret in her voice, for she was not quite pleased 


36 


CYRUS TEE MAGICIAN 


that Cyrus and she were to be separated in the 
day’s entertainment. “I shall be glad to see you 
and Simon among the great ones, and your father 
and I will look on, proud to see you honored.” 

“ Yes, Iole, it is a good beginning for us, and 
great profit may come from our day’s work. Si- 
mon has made his mark already among the Mega- 
byzi and we shall do some tricks to-day that will 
make the credulous stare.” 

“ Take care of the bright eyes of the Melissse, 
Cyrus ; if they catch you in their net, there will 
be an end of your fine projects.” 

Cyrus replied with a contemptuous wave of his 
hand, “ Those silly creatures have no interest for 
me; I shall be too busy to see them.” 

♦‘But you must look at Anthia, our Diana and 
queen ; you can’t pretend not to see her, for she 
will be the center of attraction for all eyes in 
Ephesus to-day.” 

“ But she is too sacred to look at,” said Cyrus 
in a somewhat awed voice ; “ she is the represent- 
ative of the great goddess herself.” 

“ Oh, yes,” retorted Iole, “ I know that you 
pretend she is, but, after all, she is just a beauti- 
ful girl — the most beautiful in all Ephesus, per- 
haps. There is not much credit in that. I do n’t 
see that she can help being beautiful.” 

Cyrus saw that Iole was a little out of sorts, but 
the idea of Simon’s oracle being jealous of a beau- 
tiful maiden who was to lead the procession as the 


A PAST MASTER 


37 


huntress Diana never entered his mind. But Iole 
was human, however great her mental gifts, and 
secretly resented the place of honor being given 
to a pretty face and figure. She knew also that 
Simon and even Cyrus would yet have to come to 
her for help in the great seances they were plan- 
ning connected with the Artemesian festival, and 
she would have preferred the company of youths 
and maidens in the procession to that of old 
Metadorus among the on-lookers. 

“I would rather remain with you, Iole,” said 
Cyrus, “if it would give you pleasure, but you 
know Simon brooks no interference with his plans, 
and he makes much of my being with him in the 
procession.” 

“Oh, yes; go, my friend. I can see that you 
are just bursting with pride at your own impor- 
tance. Perhaps you think your Median majesty 
will be a strong rival to Anthia for the popular 
favor.” 

Cyrus was glad to notice the friendly smile 
which accompanied this parting shaft, and he left 
in good spirits. Iole had regained her composure 
also, for she felt a genuine pride in Simon’s celeb- 
rity and was pleased with the fine appearance of 
the young magician Cyrus in his gorgeous robes 
as he passed into the street. 

By the time that Simon and Cyrus arrived at 
the temple of Diana the great procession was 
well organized and about leaving for the Mag- 


38 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


nesian Road. They soon got to their places be- 
hind the priests, somewhat to the front. 

Iole and Metadorus, who waited for the proces- 
sion at the Magnesian Gate, by which it was to 
enter the city, were first attracted by the mighty 
concourse of strangers from all parts who thronged 
the open places and theaters near this gate. Here 
the procession would first be welcomed by the 
proconsul and the Senate of Ephesus, who were 
seated in state in the Odeon. The streets were 
lined with Roman soldiers, and mingling in noisy 
excitement were Greeks, Jews, Romans and Asiatics 
of the far East, with the citizens of Ephesus, 
proud to-day of its title of Neocorus, or servant of 
the goddess. Signs of the approaching procession 
soon appeared in the rush of the people through 
the gate. All eyes were now turned to the Mag- 
nesian Road, and the ears of the people caught 
the shrill sounds of the flutes; but these were 
presently drowned in the deep roar of the multi- 
tude which came from the turning near the tomb 
of Androclus. Nearer and nearer came the sounds 
and shriller and louder the clamor of voices. A 
centurion and cohort were now seen leaving the 
Odeon, escorting the president of the Senate and 
town clerk to the Magnesian Gate, at which point 
the procession would enter the city proper. Here 
the Megabyzus, or chief priest of Diana, soon ap- 
peared, and the town clerk presented him with the 
keys of the city in token of the entire surrender 


A PAST MASTER 


39 


of the religious aud civil loyalty to the great god- 
dess during her sacred month Artemesion. 

The pageant was now in full sight of those 
seated near the proconsul and senate in the 
Odeon. Metadorus was greatly agitated, and 
having seen the festival before, was explaining 
the different persons of interest to Iole. “ Look 
at that fine old man preceded by the herald ; he 
is a Medo-Persian by race and chief priest of the 
temple of Diana. Oh, yes, Iole ; we are people of 
some consequence here, I can tell you. I knew 
what I was doing when I brought Cyrus to 
Ephesus.” The old man was evidently dreaming 
dreams for his boy. “ Look, there they come, 
Simon and Cyrus,” he exclaimed, excitedly, as the 
priests and magicians came along following the 
Megabyzus, among whom in a place of honor were 
our friends. “ See the champion athletes,” said 
Metadorus, as the splendid figures of the men who 
had won honors in the gymnasia came up. 
“ They follow the magicians here, Iole, for you 
must know the good people of Ephesus think 
more of our skill and wisdom than they do of 
brute strength.” 

Iole waved her scarf to Cyrus as he passed by, 
and while the father of the youth was building for 
him the ladder of fame, Iole was commending him 
to the protection of the goddess. 

As we can. hardly learn the order of the proces- 
sion from Metadorus in his excitement, let us look 


40 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


at it, as it passes through the Magnesian Gate. 
First came the sacred herald and trumpeters with 
flute players and incense burners ; then the priests 
and magicians, who were splendidly dressed and 
carried their wands of office and received a hearty 
welcome from the people. Next came the cham- 
pions of the gymnasium and honored citizens. 
But one could easily see that the intense eager- 
ness of the masses was not to be explained by the 
appearance of the priests, athletes and nobles. 
The servants of the temple now followed, carry- 
ing the holy utensils, torches, baskets of flowers 
and fruits and perfumes. Then came a fine caval- 
cade of horses richly caparisoned, hounds led in the 
leash, and servants carrying hunting accouterments 
of all sorts. The crowd was by this time wrought 
up into a state of fanatical frenzy, and as the van 
of the virgins and youths, the young votaries of 
the goddess, emerged through the gate, a shout of 
rapture went up from eveiy throat. Now they 
were pouring into the city r , a great troop of the 
most beautiful maidens and youths of about six- 
teen years of age, all serving that day in the an- 
nual festival of the great Diana, the girls looking 
for spouses and the young men for wives. 

The first shout had died away to a murmur of 
expectation, and as the last of the train came up 
there were more music and flowers and incense. 
Then, preceded by the Melissse or priestesses danc- 
ing to the music of the flutes, came the chief fig- 


A PAST 31 ASTER 


41 


ure of all. This was the noble and lovely Anthia, 
who had been selected by the citizens for her sur- 
passing beauty and grace to represent the god- 
dess Diana. Her dark hair was crowned with a 
diadem of flowers, and on her forehead shone a 
crescent of pearls. A hunting baldric decked her 
shoulders, and she was attired in a purple skirt 
hanging down from her waist to her knees with 
leather buskins beneath. The skin of a fawn 
girded her waist, from which hung her quiver and 
arrows. She bore in her hand a javelin and her 
hounds followed her as the Queen of the chase. 
Her noble carriage and beautiful countenance, 
smiling sweetly on the people, entranced every 
beholder,- and they could imagine they saw the 
virgin goddess, huntress, protectress and glory of 
their city living before them. At her appearance 
the shouts were redoubled, and all through the 
city from street to theater, and gymnasium to 
forum the plaudits of the people rang out like 
thunder. More Melissse, citizens, and soldiers fol- 
lowed, and when the rear of the procession had 
passed the Magnesian Gate, the van had reached 
the great forum and was heading for the Cores- 
sian Gate, by which it left the city. 

Cyrus, by the time he had arrived at the Co- 
ressian Gate, was beginning to realize the magni- 
tude of the festival in which he was taking part. 
As he gazed down the vast and splendid porticoes 
which ran alongside the stadium, just beside the 


42 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


gate, he beheld a concourse of people which 
dwarfed even the crowd at the great theater. 
Here they had congregated to be ready to issue 
with the procession on its way back to the temple. 
When the temple was reached the crowds accom- 
panying the procession filled the sanctuary boun- 
daries, and many who had the special right on 
that sacred day came into the temple to sacrifice 
to the great Diana. When the Megabyzus had 
taken his place near the high altar, surrounded by 
the priests, Anthia was led up to a special throne 
amid burning incense and flowers scattered before 
her feet by the maidens and youths, and the sac- 
rifices of the spring festival were offered. 

As Cyrus saw all the priests of the temple, 
champions of the gymnasium, senators, and sol- 
diers, the bright gay colors and smiling faces of 
the youths and maidens, and the devotion of the 
people for the central goddess, he felt proud to 
have a part in the pageant, and registered a vow 
of service to Diana. It was different with Simon. 
He regarded these dignitaries of the temple and 
the senate as his lawful prey, and saw the zeal and 
devotion of the people with a secret satisfaction, 
while he looked upon the rude figure of the holy 
idol with a feeling of contempt. The mysteries 
of her worship alone interested him, and he felt 
sure he could penetrate her secrets, and ride to 
wealth and fame upon the superstition of her 
worshipers. 


CHAPTER III 


IOLE THE ORACLE 

It had been a day of excitement and great fa- 
tigue. Even their very success had brought extra 
exhaustion to Cyrus, and he was glad when he 
lay down in his own little cubiculum and dreamed 
of the fair huntress and her attendant nymphs. 
Next morning he had to tell Iole everything, and 
his evident enjoyment of the ceremonies, without 
too much interest in Anthia, pleased the girl. 
She could not resist the temptation to talk of 
Anthia herself, however, and twitted Cyrus with 
his evident indifference to the charms of the 
queen of the pageant. 

44 1 am surprised, Cyrus, that the leading magi- 
cian does not take more interest in the leading 
priestess.” 

44 1 do n’t lay claim to being the leading magi- 
cian, Iole,” replied Cyrus ; 44 and you should bear 
in mind that the representative of the goddess is 
too far above her worshipers for a youth like me 
to dare to raise my eyes to her.” 

“Really, Cyrus, you forget she is only a girl 
like the rest of us, and just taking part in a show. 
Of course, if you regard her as a goddess, really, 
I do n’t want to say anything to diminish your 
43 


44 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


reverence. I think, however, she would be proud 
to know that Cyrus the magician thought her a 
goddess.” 

Cyrus looked so surprised at Iole’s chaff on the 
subject that the gill blushed and apologized. 

“ Oh, Cyrus, you take me quite too seriously. 
You forget I have no brother to torment but you. 
I have been so long alone here with no one to gos- 
sip with, that I am glad to get even such a Simon 
sobersides as you to make fun of.” 

The laugh and the sob were following peril- 
ously close in Iole’s voice, and Cyrus had no skill 
to read her heart. He had great knowledge of 
the magician’s art, but the profound mystery of a 
woman’s soul was yet a closed book to him. Iole 
was as yet a mystery to herself. She was at this 
period of her life in good spirits, delighted with 
the new companionship of Cyrus, and not yet 
burdened with the work which at a later day 
taxed her powers and exhausted her energies. 
Her natural disposition was gay and cheerful, and 
the woman’s longing for home and love had not 
yet awakened in her heart. She was fancy free, 
and she had not come to realize how deeply and 
'tenderly a girl yearns in opening womanhood for 
a mother’s love and a mother’s counsel. 

“I am delighted, Cyrus, that you are so much 
interested in your profession ; what fame and 
wealth may a young man not expect who cher- 
ishes so lofty an ideal as you do ! Do n’t forget, 


IOLE THE ORAGLE 


45 


however, my friend, that ambition is not every 1 
thing. Other things are needed to make us happy 
besides riches and popular applause.” 

“ Whatever we get, Iole, you shall surely share,” 
Cyrus hastened to say. 

Iole looked at him for a moment, and said, “ Cy- 
rus, would you not rather go into Simon’s Hall of 
Magic, and plan out your coming conquests over 
the people, than sit here talking to a foolish girl ? ” 

Cyrus left, wondering at the slight tone of con- 
tempt that sounded in her usually gentle voice. 

“ Men are all alike, are they not, Aroe ? ” she 
added, addressing her female attendant. “ They 
think when they have won honors and power that 
a woman should rejoice with them and fall down 
and worship them, though she herself is kept in 
the background all forgotten.” 

“ But you are not forgotten, Iole. They can 
win little fame without you.” 

“ Yes, yes, I know ; but what do I care for the 
shouts of the people? I would rather have one 
dear friend who honors and loves me for myself 
than the wealth of Ophir and the power of 
Caesar.” 

The girl said all this with a fine contradiction 
of ideas and speech that confused Aroe. But if 
any one had questioned Iole herself as to her real 
desires he would have been as confused as her 
servant, for she was in the dreamy uncertain 
period of maidenhood when the longings of the 


46 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


heart are beginning to dominate life and the girl 
is full of contradictions, ready to yield a wealth 
of love and honor to the wise and gracious heart 
that can read her secret. 

Simon the Jewish magician was no ordinary 
man, and his plans at this time were deeply laid. 
The temple of Diana at Ephesus was not a sanc- 
tuary only, but a great museum, where were stored 
some of the choicest art-treasures of the greatest 
painters and sculptors ; and, what to Simon was of 
much greater consequence, it was the great bank 
of the East. Nowhere in Asia could money be 
more safely bestowed than here, and therefore 
kings and private persons placed their treasures 
under the guardianship of the goddess. It was 
his purpose to gain influence with the Megabyzns 
so that he might gain access to this splendid 
treasure. He had supreme confidence in himself 
and his acknowledged superiority in magic justi- 
fied him in thinking he might succeed. His suc- 
cess in the ordinary tricks and displays of his craft 
in the gymnasia and theaters for several months 
after the festival of Artemesion had been followed 
by a large private clientage, who were now crowd- 
ing his house as patrons crowd the office of a fash- 
ionable physician. Cyrus and lole were acting 
their parts with prudence and great ability, though’ 
nothing very difficult had as yet been required of 
lole. They were both kept in profound ignorance 
of Simon’s real purpose. 


10 LE THE ORACLE 


47 


Metadorus died not long after the great festival. 
The excitement was too much for the feeble old 
man, and he passed away, predicting the unique 
fame of his son Cyrus. 

As the youth kneeled to receive his father’s 
dying blessing the old magician said, “ Remember, 
my son, that you come of a race of wise men to 
whom the secrets of life and the light of truth are 
more than wealth and fame ; yet are both wealth 
and fame at their command, and my spirit tells me 
that here in Ephesus the name of Cyrus the 
Median will yet be covered with glory.” 

The words were spoken in sincerity and heard 
by Cyrus with a kind of awe. He was not so much 
puffed up by them as fascinated by the vision of 
the future. Little could he read that future with 
all his boasted skill ; little could the old magician 
dream of the strange destiny which was in store 
for Cyrus, and which was to give wonderful ful- 
filment to his prophecy, though in a way so differ- 
ent from the prophet’s thought. 

Cyrus had established quite a reputation for 
himself in the stadium among the athletes and 
philosophers, who in the intervals of contests and 
readings gave attention to some of his wonderful 
displays of magic. He cast horoscopes and told 
fortunes and roused a perfect fury of excitement 
by the many coincidences between his predictions 
and the success of the contestants in the games. 

Simon’s Hall of Magic became a regular resort 


48 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


for the philosophers, athletes, soldiers and sailors, 
and the more knowing among them purchased the 
Ephesian Letters at a great price, while all were 
purchasers of charms and spells of more or less 
value. But it was in the gifts of Iole that Simon 
placed his greatest hopes. She had of late been 
giving seances of great value, predicting fortunes 
and locating lost treasure. Simon was now con- 
fident of himself and Iole, and had gained suffi- 
cient influence with the Megabyzus to propose the 
introduction of his medium into the temple for 
one of her evocations. Permission was granted 
and arrangements were made for a seance in the 
cella or open place in front of the altar. Iole felt 
the importance 'of the event and never did this 
deeply sensitive girl so thrill with a feeling of awe 
and the importance of her action as when she 
stood before the statue of the virgin goddess, 
where the superstition of Asia and Greece had for 
ages worshiped. 

As the company had entered the temple through 
the pronaos and were passing the vestibule, Simon 
glanced to his left, for there stood the ponderous 
doors of the treasury, the real shrine of his desires. 
At this same moment Iole felt as if a shadow had 
crossed her path, and she entered the great cella 
with a feeling of dread. Was it the influence of 
Simon’s wicked purpose or only the natural ti- 
midity of a young girl in the presence of so many 
priests, magicians, orators and worshipers, all in- 


IOLE THE ORACLE 


49 


tent on some great display in which she was the 
chief actor ? The dread wore off and the sense of 
awe took possession of her. She was aware of her 
gifts, and believed the gods had vouchsafed her 
vision and utterance beyond the common. 

Simon, who was arrayed in his purple robe of 
exalted science, with Cyrus, who wore the white 
of the neophyte, stood one on each side of the 
altar, and Iole was in the rear and immediately in 
front of the statue of Artemis. The usual appa- 
ratus of the magician was not here, as the place 
was considered of sufficient sacredness to be effi- 
cient for all mystical powers ; but Simon had stip- 
ulated that his tripod, on which was hung the 
pentagram, should stand in front of the altar, and 
in his own hand he carried the magic rod of a 
Master. 

When the usual sacrifice and incense had been 
offered by the attendant priests, the music of the 
flutes and cymbals still continuing, a soft move- 
ment of dancing feet was heard from the rear of 
the statue and the Melissae emerged in swaying 
measure to the front of the altar, bowing and danc- 
ing before their queen. As soon as they disap- 
peared Simon took possession of the vacant place, 
assisted by Cyrus. Iole, who had been deeply 
impressed by the ceremonies and the exalted char- 
acter of the assembly, rose in answer to Simon’s 
signal and began a low musical chant, the words 
of which not even Cyrus or Simon could catch. 


50 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Presently the chant changed into an address to 
the goddess as mother of all living, the light- 
bringer and guardian angel of Ephesus, and the 
patron and protectress of maidens. Here Simon 
became tense with expectation, for her words were 
now quite distinct and it had been his emphatic 
instruction to Iole to pronounce his name at this 
stage as the favored of Diana, by whom her most 
precious treasures were to be guarded. But Iole 
felt the dread come back and grip her throat, al- 
most paralyzing her powers of speech. As she 
had been prepared to evoke the spirit of Alex- 
ander the great, she mixed the names of Simon 
and Alexander. “The great magician Alexander 
is here, the favorite of the great Diana ; but a 
greater spirit is present, a spirit of wisdom and 
light, and he shall read the mystery of life, and 
to him shall be given the guardianship of the 
treasure and the knowledge of the secrets of the 
virgin goddess ; and Ephesus shall be a name of 
glory as long as the moon and stars shall hold 
their places in the heavens.” 

To the credulous worshipers the prediction of 
the eternal glory of Ephesus, however confused 
the statement of its guardianship, was sufficient 
to call forth their applause and gratitude ; and as 
the voice of Iole died away in a low chant, the 
priests and worshipers broke out into murmurs 
of applause, ending with “ Great is Diana of the 
Ephesians.” 


IOLE THE ORACLE 


51 


The seance, though it had not met all Simon’s 
expectations, had answered its purpose very well, 
and perhaps, as he thought afterward, it was bet- 
ter not to lajr claim to too much at first. But to 
lole it was a strange revelation, for it was the first 
time she had been distinctly conscious of a will of 
her own strongly opposed to Simon’s. She was 
aware, as she saw the magnificent ceremonies for 
the virgin goddess, of a distinct desire for protec- 
tion and love from the great deity, and as she 
opened her heart in prayer to that being which 
alone she knew as the guardian of girlhood, she 
felt choked at the utterance of Simon’s name. In 
talking the matter over with Cyrus afterward she 
asked him if he could remember the exact words 
she spoke, and when she learned them she was 
more surprised. 

“They seem to me,” she said to him, “to refer 
to something quite different from either Alexander 
the patron of Ephesus, or Simon the would-be 
guardian of her temple treasure.” 

Cyrus, more under the dominance of Simon, 
could read no message between the lines. 

“Who can tell?” said lole. “Perhaps there is 
a spirit present who will lead us all into more light 
and a larger life, and who will yet read the secret 
and win the glory of the great Diana.” 

It was while Simon was preparing for a new 
attempt upon the temple that Cyrus and lole 
learned more of each other’s plans in life, and 


52 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


came to understand each other’s hearts better. 
Both hinted, but with a certain fear, the growing 
aversion they had to Simon. Iole was moved thus 
because she felt in her sensitive mind that Simon 
was driving her on to some purpose of his own 
and putting words into her mouth, instead of let- 
ting her pray to the gods and open her mind and 
heart to them for the reception of their light and 
leading. Cyrus’ aversion grew because he felt 
more and more the strong, masterful will of Si- 
mon, and suspected a purpose not yet revealed 
to himself. Cyrus was proud and resented this 
secrecy, Iole was sincere and resented this depre- 
ciation of her gifts. 

But Simon was popular and well satisfied with 
himself. One day he returned to his Hall of 
Magic to find Cyrus impatient for his coming. 
“Who waits?” said the magician. 

“Many clients, sir, of the common sort; but 
there is a message from a noble lady of Smyrna, 
requesting an audience at such an hour.” 

“That is well; let us attend to those people 
first.” 

One was a case of lost treasure, where the 
owner of the land wanted a form of divination 
to help him discover it. At a wave of Simon’s 
rod Cyrus brought forth a small twig wrapped in 
parchment containing the letters of the Seal of 
Solomon. This was handed to the customer and 
the fee paid to Cyrus. Then soldiers and athletes 


IOLE THE ORACLE 


53 


came, but there was no need for words to pass, as 
Cyrus knew they came for the Ephesian Letters. 
Simon wrote these out, pronounced the mystic 
Kabbalah, and handed them to Cyrus. Girls came 
seeking to know their future and learn their fate 
in marriage. Simon handed out to Iole the little 
phials containing philters and, as she handed them 
to the girls, she wondered at their eagerness and 
delight as they went away with what they believed 
was the power to compel fate. Deformed and 
sick children were brought by weeping and anx- 
ious mothers ; Simon touched these with the 
caduceus of Mercury on which was the serpent of 
healing, and Cyrus handed out to their guard- 
ians as they left roots rolled in parchment, and 
potions, which they received with pathetic eager- 
ness and expressions of gratitude. When the last 
of the crowd had passed out, the hour set for the 
coming of the lady had arrived. 

44 Usher her into the Hall of Magic when she 
comes, Cyrus, and let her have courteous attend- 
ance and the necessary preparation if she comes 
for an evocation of the dead.” 

As Simon spoke Lady Antigone was an- 
nounced and the magician and Iole passed into 
the robing room, leaving Cyrus to receive the 
wealthy patron. 

She was past middle life, with a noble counte- 
nance softened by grief. Cyrus was touched by 
her refined and gentle bearing, and treated her 


54 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


with great distinction. After hearing the nature 
of her business, he bowed low before her and led 
the way into the Hall. It was a large, elegant 
apartment, hung with dark, rich draperies, and 
fitted with all the appliances of the magician’s 
craft. In the center, at the further end, stood an 
altar flanked by the two pillars of equilibrium, 
Jachin and Boaz (Faith and Reason). On' the 
front of the altar was engraved the mystic penta- 
gram, which expressed the domination of mind 
over matter and by which the magician bound the 
demons of the air, the spirits of fire, the specters 
of water, and the ghosts of earth. 

Cyrus led the lady to her place on a low settee 
in front of the altar but at a considerable distance 
away, while her servant stood close to the door. 
Two black attendants with bright red burnouses 
and yellow turbans stood at each corner of the 
further end of the apartment, and seemed to stand 
guard over the sacred mysteries within. Cyrus 
approached the altar and threw upon it some in- 
cense which he lighted from a magnificent lamp 
made of the four metals, gold, silver, brass and 
iron, which hung from the front of the altar. 
Deep silence pervaded the room, broken only by 
the soft footfalls of Cyrus as he passed from one 
position to another on each side of the altar, and 
by the low murmur of his voice as he repeated 
the hermetic axiom of the Kabbalah, “Above, 
immensity ; below, immensity also. Immensity 


10 LE THE ORACLE 


55 


is equivalent to immensity — that which is above 
is as that which is below, and that which is below 
is as that which is above.” 

Having finished his preparations he took up a 
position a few feet from the altar where above his 
head shone the bright light from the sacred lamp 
of Azoth. There was an expression of intelli- 
gence and rapt interest upon his face, which 
proved his sincerity, and carried a feeling of as- 
surance to the mind of the visitor. She looked 
up with keen expectation as he addressed her in 
these words : 

“Noble lady, you are desirous of consulting 
the man of wisdom, the possessor of the secret 
of life, the Great Arcanum, and the Great Magi- 
cal Agent, he who wears the ring of Gyges, and 
wields the scepter of Lucifer, and holds the keys 
of Solomon. You would invoke from him the 
Incommunicable Name and seek the service of 
fire, earth, and water, by the struggle of the lion 
and the wisdom of the serpent. It is necessary 
for the efficacy of this Great Agent that you should 
repose absolute confidence in the wisdom and 
ability of the magician. Fix your mind intently 
upon the object of your desire and empty your 
heart of all other interests. As you continue to 
gaze upon the sacred symbols of wisdom and 
power, the astral light which purifies and illumines 
all spirits may appear in the distance above the 
altar of incense. This will be the sign to you of 


56 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


a propitious answer to your prayers and a token 
that you may open your mind fully to the pos- 
sessor of the Great Magical Agent.” 

Cyrus, having led up thus impressively to the 
authority of the greater magician and his medium, 
bowed low and moved backward and toward the 
left of the altar, where he stood with his hands 
folded over his breast and his head slightly bent. 
A low murmur as of prayer rose from the lady’s 
lips and in a brief space a light broke from the 
further end of the room which had remained until 
now in deep shadow. The two black figures, as 
soon as they saw the light, prostrated themselves 
upon the floor, and remained thus with their fore- 
heads touching the ground between their hands. 
At this moment Simon glided noiselessly from be- 
hind the hangings and stood at the right side of 
the altar looking toward the lady. He was 
dressed in a rich purple robe, with a cincture of 
gold around his head, upon which were set the 
magic letters of the Clavicula of Solomon. He 
held in his hand the symbol of power, the white 
magic rod — a straight twig of almond cut from 
the tree by a single blow of the golden sickle. It 
contained longitudinally in the center a needle of 
magnetized iron, and was capped at one end by a 
crystal polyhedral prism and at the other by a 
similar figure of black resin. In the middle were 
placed two rings of copper and the part next the 
resin was covered with gold, while the part toward 


10 LE THE ORACLE 


57 


the prism was covered with silver. A thin, filmy 
thread of silk wrapped the whole mysterious sym- 
bol. He waited to be addressed by the suppliant 
for his demonic aid, on whose senses by this time 
the effects of the perfumes and the light were be- 
ginning to work. 

“ Great power of the gods ! ” she began in a 
low voice, “ I came to invoke your aid concerning 
my son. He was summoned to appear before the 
emperor on a grave charge, of which I assure you 
he is entirely innocent. If he lives I pray that he 
may be restored to his home and mother, and if he 
is dead I would speak with his spirit.” 

“Noble lady,” said Simon, “the request that 
you make is the greatest that mortal can demand 
of the magician, and may not be within his power 
unless the spirits are propitious. Meanwhile let 
your mind be fixed upon your desires and we shall 
enter the Great Arcanum to find an answer.” 

Simon had continued to look into the eyes of 
the lady during this address with a glance of 
mingled shrewdness and masterfulness, a look 
which awed as well as searched his victim. There 
was in his bearing, however, a suggestion of defer- 
ence which attracted and partly reassured her. At 
his disappearance the incense was increased and 
filled the room with a delicious aroma that sub- 
dued the senses into languor. At the point where 
the light had been burning in the rear of the 
room, there now appeared a luminous female 


58 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


form, whose rapt gaze and inspired manner ar- 
rested the deepest attention of Antigone. Near 
this figure Simon himself again appeared and at 
his mystic passes with the rod she began to speak. 

At first her tones were low and indistinct, form- 
ing a pleasing chant as of some hymn to the gods, 
but presently they became clear and penetrating. 
“I see the camps of the legions, and the form of 
a noble youth : he is in chains. I see the hall of 
the prgetorium and the throngs of people. It is 
the seat of judgment. I hear confused voices, a 
cloud of great darkness settles down upon the 
multitude. There is darkness yet, but stillness 
as of the grave. No voice ! no light ! no mes- 
sage ! ” The face of the medium became blank, 
the luminous face vanished and the form disap- 
peared. 

Cyrus, whose attention was fixed upon the lady 
saw her fall forward with a cry of agony. He ap- 
proached her, beckoning to her attendant, and 
they removed her from the room. Having left her 
in the care of the women he returned to Simon 
for instructions. 

When Cyrus got back to the anteroom, Antig- 
one was composed and eager for further enlight- 
enment. “Noble lady, my master bids me say 
that further knowledge must come from the im- 
mortal spirits and the manes of the dead. This 
will require much preparation and great labor on 
the part of the magician. If you will be pleased 


IDLE THE ORACLE 


59 


to return at the end of seven days, the book of 
the oraeles shall be consulted and full preparation 
made for the reception of the message you desire.” 

Antigone assented with a look of speechless 
misery and the conflicting lights and shadows of 
hope and fear raced across her face. Her attend- 
ant placed a purse of gold in the hands of Cyrus, 
and the little procession which contained such a 
weight of misery and hopeless sorrow passed out 
of the door of the House of Magic. 

Simon was awaiting with impatience the return 
of Cyrus and asked how the lady had received his 
invitation to come for another seance. 

“ She seemed greatly disappointed, but said she 
would come again.” 

Simon was pleased and spoke to Cyrus in a more 
natural and friendly tone, laying aside the pro- 
fessional air he had assumed in the presence of 
the suppliants. “ Do you think, Cyrus, she is 
wealthy? I believe she is somewhat under my 
power already. Did you see that the slave fol- 
lowed her to her residence? I hope nothing will 
be allowed to miscarry in this case. It is not 
enough that I should have power; I must have 
wealth. O great Gnosis ! happy is the man that 
hath mastered thee ! Happy is the possessor of 
thy great secret ! ” 

This monologue Simon continued for a little 
time, ignoring the presence of Cyrus. Turning 
to him at length, he said : “ Cyrus, you have seen 


60 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


to-day but a small part of the power of the Great 
Agent. It is not alone our knowledge of the 
properties of matter and the elements — fire, air, 
earth, and water — with our command of those 
secret virtues of the herbs and the stones — the 
medicinal virtues of nature — that make the magi- 
cian. Any common mind that studies a little on 
our formulae may have these, but we of the great 
secret are masters of the invisible and demonic 
powers of the world.” 


CHAPTER IV 


THE YOUNG MASTER 

Simon was now in high spirits, for he saw he 
was making a great reputation for the most diffi- 
cult of all the arts of magic — the evocation of the 
spirits of the dead — and that people of wealth and 
consequence were seeking his aid. Laying his 
hands upon the shoulders of Cyrus, he said, “ The 
time has come for me to fulfil the promise made 
to your father by your initiation into the secrets 
of the Great Arcanum.” 

Here he summoned the blacks and his assistant 
sorcerers and Iole, and informed them of his pur- 
pose. From a cabinet he took a magnificent pur- 
ple robe like his own and several articles belonging 
to the master-craft of the magician. 

“ Cyrus,” he said, addressing him with his grand 
professional air, in which there was a great deal of 
natural dignity, “this pentagram of gold with its 
appropriate signs for the learned, in which you 
have already been instructed, I hang around your 
neck as a mark of your initiation into the high 
art of our magical craft. This purple robe of the 
master of exalted science I lay upon the shoulders 
61 


62 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


of one found worthy. Take this signet ring of 
emerald, on which is cut the Seal of Solomon, 
and finally, in token of your high discretion to 
direct the greatest works and control matters of 
highest wisdom, receive into thy right hand this 
magic rod, which has been prepared with appro- 
priate ceremonies. Come near and let me whisper 
in your ear the potent word of the Great Arcanum 
which controls the powers of the air and of the 
earth and of the fire and of the water.” 

As he thus spoke, Simon drew himself to his 
full height, a look of commanding dignity upon 
his strong masterful face indicative of an iron will 
and fixed purpose. Then bending to the keen but 
milder face of Cyrus, now beaming with the light 
of a high resolve, he whispered in his ear the 
magic word of supreme power. “ Henceforth,” 
he said, “ we are no longer master and pupil, but 
equals in the possession of that secret of the mind 
which masters the destiny of all things living and 
dead.” Then looking with significance again into 
the eyes of Cyrus, the newly initiated master 
magician, he added, “ Thus have I given you the 
master-word of all great priests and kings, rulers 
of men in all ages. This is the master-word of 
your own great ancestors the Median Magi, from 
whom we have received these mysteries. I give 
it you, as I got it from my master, and as I prom- 
ised to your father. Be thou a man of Supreme 
Will, and peoples and nations shall submit them- 


THE YOUNG MASTER 


63 


selves to thee. The ignorant shall be thy slaves, 
the sick and the demoniac shall worship thee, and 
the rich and great and powerful shall load thee 
with riches and honors. To-day, T, Simon, though 
born in obscurity and reared in poverty, am the 
companion of governors and the equal of high 
priests. I have a power which I would not ex- 
change for Caesar’s.” 

As the man pronounced these words his body 
seemed to swell with a great pride, and his eyes 
flashed with an earnestness which deeply im- 
pressed both Iole and Cyrus. Simon was really 
intoxicated with a sense of his own power, which 
was partly founded upon his real knowledge of 
the physics and medicine of the time, and partly 
on the pretensions of the occultism of the East. 
Indeed, men like Simon Magus were possessors of 
power which the superstition and ignorance of 
those days attributed to the gods. His success 
in Ephesus had been very great, and honors and 
wealth were coming to him both from the super- 
stition of the multitude and the interest of the 
learned and priestly classes who wanted to attach 
him to the service of the temple. In this splendid 
field for magical fame, the center of Greek art and 
learning as well as Oriental superstition, he was 
in the very focus of the world’s credulity and the 
world’s riches. Here, if anywhere, was the ladder 
of his great ambitions. 

Cyrus, the young master, was elated with his 


64 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


new honors. He thought proudly of his long line 
of Median ancestors and remembered his fond 
father and how happy he would have been to take 
part in the ceremony of that day. The youth was 
moved to unwonted tenderness, and longed for a 
voice out of the silence to assure him that the 
spirit of Metadorus was satisfied. Why did he 
not turn in his perplexity to Iole ? This is indeed 
one of the real mysteries of magic ; it is appealed 
to by the magician to help all difficulties but his 
own. So a doubt came to his mind in the hour of 
his victory. Happily for Cyrus, there was a 
strong contrast between himself and Simon, both 
in their physical and mental make-up which ef- 
fectually precluded any risk of rivalry. Simon 
was tall, strongly aggressive in spite of his look of 
Greek refinement, and took naturally to the tone 
of hectoring superiority, which awed the crowd. 
Cyrus was rather elegant than massive, with a 
keen, bright but modest glance of eye, and a rich, 
warm, olive skin. Over his face often passed a 
smile, a kindly indulgent wave of light upon his 
countenance, which one never saw on the face of 
Simon. There was also an expectant look, an 
eager questioning, which Simon never perceived, 
for it came mostly in the darkened room when the 
enquirers of his master were seeking the light and 
aid which even Simon and Iole could not furnish. 
For the present this questioning had apparently 
been laid to rest, for the reception of Simon both 


THE YOUNG MASTER 


65 


by the populace and the priests of the temple 
was be} r ond their expectations. 

The slave sent to follow Antigone to her lodg- 
ing had brought valuable information concerning 
her affairs. Simon and Cyrus, once put upon the 
track of their client, soon mastered the details of 
her private life and were in possession of secrets 
which enabled them to give an air of truth to 
their necromancy. The seventh day was near at 
hand and the most careful preparations were 
being made in the house of Simon for a bold and 
effective seance. 

Cyrus, while walking in the garden on the 
evening before the return of Antigone, was ac- 
costed by a slave who informed him of the wish 
of her mistress Iole to see him. When he entered 
the apartment he found her pale and dejected, as 
if the dread of the approaching event had already 
affected her mind. 

“ Cyrus,” said Iole, with unusual feeling, “ I 
greatly need your help, for my mind is tossed with 
many fears concerning the approaching evocation. 
My heart is torn also, for strange memories of my 
past are coming to me since I saw Lady Antigone 
and heard her speak.” 

Cyrus tried to reassure her and pointed out 
that such fancies arose from her sensitive nature, 
so quick to receive impressions of the unseen 
world. “ Your spirit is quickly responsive to the 
thoughts of the demons, and perhaps some mem- 
5 


66 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


ories of your old home come more readily at such 
an hour.” 

“ Ah, yes,” she replied, eagerly ; “ that is the 
trouble which racks my soul at this moment. I 
wonder how long this wandering life is to last, 
how long my spirit must struggle with those 
powers that elude and torment me more than 
they reveal themselves and give me comfort. I 
have had strange suggestions of familiar faces and 
scenes since the voice of Antigone sounded in my 
ears. Somewhere among flowers and sparkling 
waters and the music of children’s laughter I 
think I must have heard that voice before. And 
now that you tell me she is from Smyrna and a 
Greek, I am convinced of our relationship. 
Cyrus, look at that beautiful coin,” and Iole took 
a golden Homerian stater from her bosom. “ You 
see that shows I am from Smyrna, for that is our 
Smyrnean charm. Simon has always refused to 
bring me to that city. Oh, is it possible that my 
long-lost mother is near me once more, and that I 
shall be restored to my own family again ? ” 

Cyrus was greatly agitated by this speech, for, 
although his opportunities for seeing and talking 
to Iole were frequent, and little restraint laid 
upon their conversation, one subject was strictly 
forbidden. That was the early history and family 
life of Iole. Cyrus felt that to listen further was 
a sort of disloyalty to Simon, and he honestly be- 
lieved that the extremely sensitive mind of Iole 


THE YOUNG MASTER 


67 


was distracted by the severe course of training 
she was undergoing at the hands of Simon in prep- 
aration for the coming evocation of the spirit of 
the son of Antigone. 

44 It is needful that you should rest, Iole,” said 
Cyrus. “ Much is expected of you to-morrow, 
and Simon cannot bear to have us talk together 
on the past. He loves to see us cheerful and con- 
fident also, for how often has he told us that as- 
surance of our own powers is almost as potent as 
the magic rod itself ! ” 

44 I seek not to judge Simon,” said the maiden, 
44 but he cannot read the heart of a friendless 
girl. Where are my parents ? Where are my 
brothers and sisters ? I am alone here with no 
mother or brother to love and shelter me in their 
strong, sweet love. What care I for the shoutings 
and the abject reverence of the multitude ? ” In 
her excitement Iole had changed from the patient, 
meek, suffering girl and revealed to Cyrus some- 
thing of the real fire of a prophetic oracle. “ I 
seem to see them at play by the banks of a pleas- 
ant stream ; I see the busy streets and the ter- 
raced houses, tier on tier, as they climb the 
heights of the city. That stream can be no other 
than the pleasant Meles and those terraces no 
other than the slopes of my native Smyrna.” 

She had now worked herself into a state of 
ecstasy, and was mixing up her subsequent knowl- 
edge with old and uneffaced memories of her child- 


68 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


hood and early youth. The mood did not last, 
however, for she sank again on the cushions, and 
began to moan like a stricken thing. 

Cyrus dreaded lest Simon should enter at that 
moment, for he knew that his iron will would stop 
at nothing in the suppression of such sentiments. 
But the youth was deeply moved by the condition 
of Iole, for she had often affected him strangely 
of late. Her undoubted powers had made her an 
object of genuine reverence to him as a magician, 
for the occult magic of the East was in his Me- 
dian blood. But her loneliness and youthful 
beauty had also touched his heart. She was sep- 
arated from the other maidens of her race and 
age, not only by her faculties, but by the jealous 
watchfulness and strenuous mastery of Simon over 
all her actions. She was carefully and even lux- 
uriously surrounded, for Simon was no vulgar and 
brutal master ; but he was nevertheless a master. 
And although she was not spoken of nor treated 
as a slave, there was an understanding always 
acted upon that she was strictly under Simon’s 
control. Her gifts and beauty were her real safe- 
guard, however, for the magician knew that with- 
out her his most powerful works were impossible. 
She was his oracle, his medium, his prophetess, 
and perhaps deeper than all this, Simon himself 
was strongly convinced of the reality of her super- 
natural powers. 

This paroxysm of grief and sorrow strangely 


THE YOUNG MASTER 


69 


stirred the heart of Cyrus. The black cloud of 
disaster to their professional pretensions loomed 
up in the near future, if she were not calmed and 
restored to self-control. Yet the youth was moved 
to pity by the grief of the maiden. It was per- 
haps this feeling that sounded in his voice as he 
tried to console her, for the unwonted warmth of 
his words touched her heart and helped to bring 
her back to life again. 

“ Dear Iole,” said Cyrus, “ I also am alone and 
a stranger among this people ; but the knowledge 
of the gods and the powers of wisdom are more 
to me than country and people. Let me give you 
a brother’s love and service, and since we are both 
alone and without kin, let us be kin through the 
great secret of our profession.” 

There was a touch of spirit in Iole’s answer 
which served greatly to restore her. “I thank 
you, Cyrus; you have ever been a good brother, 
but your love of knowledge and secret ambition 
to rule men like Simon somewhat blinds you to a 
woman’s needs. She cannot put the power of the 
magician in place of kin and country. My heart 
is empty, hungry, perishing for a mother’s love. 
Oh, why cannot I, who help others in their sorrow 
and tell them their secrets, help myself and ex- 
plain the mystery of my own life? But I thank 
you, Cyrus, and I too will give you a sister’s love 
— yes ; for we are alone. Strange that all our 
power cannot satisfy our own lonely hearts ! ” 


70 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Cyrus, flushed with pride at his recent eleva- 
tion to the rank of master magician, and still 
under the spell of Simon’s ambitions, was too 
much preoccupied to feel the taunt in Iole’s 
words. But the pathos of her condition greatly 
touched him and began to work a change in his 
thought and feelings toward her. 

Iole had indeed been stolen when young and 
passed into the hands of Simon by Tresmegistus, 
one of the leading magicians of Asia Minor. He 
had early marked her facility for mystic impres- 
sions and had trained her with extreme care, both 
in his own art and in general knowledge. She 
was one of those supersensitive maidens who re- 
spond to every emotion as the willow to the wind. 
In her own thought the knowledge of the demons 
was a gift of the gods rarely bestowed on mor- 
tals ; she felt herself therefore a privileged person. 
She had no part in and but little knowledge of 
the base uses of imposture and greed to which 
this power of hers was put. She had been care- 
fully protected from exposure to rude crowds in 
the market-places, where they put many of the 
unfortunate female slaves possessed of the spirit 
of divination. Simon aimed at influencing the 
governors of provinces, the rich merchants, and 
the priests, and guarded his oracle as he guarded 
his mysteries and his magic rod from profanation. 
But the heart of the child, in the woman, cried 
out for a mother’s love, and the heart of the 


THE YOUNG MASTER 


71 


woman could not be satisfied with the ambitions 
of men. Life in Ephesus had at first diverted her 
— the gay processions, the laughing, dancing 
troops of the Melissse, the magnificence of the 
temple, and, most of all, the brotherly companion- 
ship of Cyrus; but as she had learned more of 
the worship and the sad fate of many of those 
votaries of Diana her spirits fell and a sense of 
her own loneliness returned. Now that she saw 
Cyrus preoccupied with his ambitions her self- 
control broke down utterly. Cyrus was not 
aware of any undercurrent of longing or unrest, 
and this scene was the first to open his eyes to the 
fact that a human soul may be thought powerful 
to help others and be very powerless to help in its 
own sorrow. It was the first also to suggest to 
him that the great mystery of a woman's heart 
might be a dark secret to the wisest magician. 


CHAPTER V 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 

On the seventh day Antigone again appeared at 
the house of Simon, where her coming was anx- 
iously and even eagerly expected. She was evi- 
dently under some strong feeling, and the pale, 
sweet face which showed itself after the removal 
of her veil was one that might have moved a heart 
of steel to pity. Her home had been broken up, 
and the sacred treasures of her hearth scattered. 
What war and violence and the rapacity of for- 
eign masters had left her was now being spent 
under the dark curse of superstition, in the hope 
of knowing something of the fate of her loved 
ones. 

In the sunny Christian homes where law and 
liberty and the knowledge of God through Jesus 
protects and sweetens our children’s lives, we can 
have little idea of the horrors of great darkness 
which lay on the hearts of the people in the Greco- 
Roman and Asiatic lands before Christ. They 
were plundered by the heartless robbers sent out 
from Rome as proconsuls and procurators. Their 
families were sundered and lost to one another in 
the confusion and misery of war, often sold into 
slavery; and the greatest scourge of all — the mental 
72 


THE HALL OP MAGIC 73 

disease of superstition concerning the wrath of 
gods and demons, which pervaded and cursed all 
life — ate like a canker into the spirits of men. Re- 
ligion had utterly died out of the hearts of the 
people. In its place was a crushing dread of the 
powers of darkness. The sorcerer and the necro- 
mancer were to them “ The power of God which 
is called Great.” 

Not alone the ignorant and obscure so believed, 
but kings and statesmen and priests. The soldier 
would not undertake a campaign till he had con- 
sulted his augur. Divination and sorcery were 
part of the decaying worship and social customs 
of the time. Ladies would not go out for a drive 
or take a meal without consulting their book of 
lucky and unlucky hours. Life, death, fate, and 
fortune were supposed to be the playthings of 
vindictive gods and evil spirits. Hearts which, 
like the Lady Antigone’s, were bursting with real 
grief, had no hope but in the divinations of the ma- 
gician, and looked for relief with as much fear as 
hope from the inconsistencies of those revengeful 
demons. Thus, dreading against dread and hoping 
against hope, she came to seek light from the 
source of darkness. 

But the surroundings might well have imposed 
upon a stronger mind than hers. With the mag- 
ical apparatus carefully disposed as in the for- 
mer seance, and the attendants in attentive and 
even reverential attitudes around, the Hall of 


74 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Magic, with its incense and mystic light, was a 
fitting background for the craft and ability of 
Simon. As it was an evocation of the spirits of 
the departed which he was about to attempt, he 
was dressed in the green robe of Supreme Science, 
with signet of emerald, and the great agent of 
power, the “ magic rod,” covered with green silk. 
The perfumes of the altar were benzoin and sto- 
rax. The mystic astral light stood on the tripod 
of gold and iron and silver, on which was traced 
the Pythagorean pentagram. 

Cyrus, having prepared the mind of Lady An- 
tigone in words somewhat similar to those used 
on the first occasion of her visit, solemnly began 
his mystic ceremonies around the altar. Simon 
now entered, repeating the powerful spell of the 
Kabbalah “Hel, Holoym, Sother, Sabaoth, Tetra- 
grammaton, Alga, Agyros, Otheos, Ischyros, Ath- 
anatos, Aa Saday, Adonai.” These spells, uttered 
in a bold voice and confident manner, were the 
signal for the prophetic maiden to bring about the 
desired evocation. Simon waved his magic rod 
violently over the tripod, directing the astral light 
upon the rear of the room, where once more the 
striking form of Iole appeared, with an aspect of 
more than ordinary sweetness. 

Simon now stepped to one side, having uttered 
the most potent word in the “ Kabbalah ” and di- 
rected a glance of imperiousness, half threat, half 
assurance, at his medium. But by this time she 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


75 


was largely unconscious of his presence. What- 
ever power she possessed was really being exer- 
cised at that moment under her own feelings. 
Faith in the reality of the demons, faith in her 
own gifts, and the fever of anxiety and hope that 
some message from the unknown might come con- 
cerning her own life, had wrought upon the sensi- 
tive nature till she was in reality possessed of a 
spirit of divination. 

On the face of Antigone a light of hope began 
to break, and one might have seen an eager, wist- 
ful, questioning glance as she gazed more intently 
upon the face of Iole. At her first interview she 
had been occupied by the dominant personality of 
Simon, to-day she noticed the prophetic oracle of 
the magician. Iole quickly became unconscious 
to all that was passing in the room and, with eyes 
fixed on vacancy, began to mutter and gesticulate 
as if she saw something. There was a tense, eager 
gaze on the face of Cyrus as if the supreme mo- 
ment in his life had come, and Simon stood watch- 
ing to catch the words of the oracle with an air of 
alert confidence. 

Her first articulate word startled Cyrus and 
made the blood leap back to his heart. It was 
“ Mother.” 

Was she still held by the delusion that the 
stranger was her mother, thought Cyrus, and was 
the revelation to be a destruction of their hopes 
instead of the crown of their success? “ Mother,” 


76 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


murmured the oracle, u be assured of my love. 
We are separated by the gods, whose will we 
must obey. I see a dark river and a swift cur- 
rent. I cannot cross to you, for the prince of the 
country is pitiless, and holds me as his slave. 
Light is breaking from afar, but I hear no mes- 
sage ; the bright figure of the god beckons me, 
but I cannot reach his hand. Darkness comes, 
the vision fades. Oh, my heart, my home, my 
mother ! ” And with a cry of real anguish the 
maiden fainted and fell limp on the floor. Cyrus 
and the attendants rushed to her assistance. 

Antigone was torn between pity for the girl, 
and agony for her own deep disappointment. To 
her leaden heart these words were a confirmation 
of her darkest fears. Her son was evidently dead 
and the magician was helpless to restore him. 
She broke out in a torrent of grief, ‘*1 am be- 
reaved of both my children ; son and daughter. 
Oh, ye pitying gods, can no devotion, no wealth re- 
store my children? Must both be lost? Must the 
fresh flowers be taken and the withered stalk re- 
main ? ” 

Simon now approached her, partly moved by 
her sorrow and partly anxious to fasten her to his 
interests by working upon her hopes. “Noble 
lady, the voice of the spirits is clear ; your son is 
in the land of shades, and yet your heart may find 
much comfort from his message. Your uncer- 
tainty is gone and future evocations may inform 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


77 


you of his happiness on the green fields of Ely- 
sium.” 

“ I thank you, sir, and my failing fortune shall 
be gladly used to know more of my son. But it 
is not alone my boy whom I mourn. I had a little 
daughter, the light of our home and the sunshine 
of our hearts. One day she was playing by the 
river. It flowed beside our garden and the nurse 
had been heedless of her charge. She was either 
stolen or strayed to her death in the mountains, 
for we never saw her again. I dread to return to 
my home in Smyrna and I have no pleasure longer 
in our pleasant Meles, for its waters seem to me 
to murmur the infant prattle of my little Irene.” 

Cyrus was eagerly listening to this story and 
rapidly putting together the words of Iole and 
the recital of Antigone. Could they be indeed 
mother and daughter? The change of name was 
rather confirmatory than against its truth. Tres- 
megistus would surely change the name of a stolen 
child ; and if he did not Simon would give her a 
name of his own choosing. There were the same 
dark eyes, with a like tender, appealing look, in 
Iole and Antigone. But these might be the 
marks of a common race heritage, and he had 
seen that yearning look of late in the eyes of 
many women who came to the Hall of Magic for 
help, as if life were for them a great burden with- 
out love and hope. He resolved to accompany 
Antigone to her lodging on pretense of service. 


78 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


and to secure for himself a fuller knowledge of 
her life’s story. 

When Cyrus met Iole the next day, it was evident 
from her appearance that a great change had come 
over her. She was calmer and more self-possessed. 

“ Tell me, Cyrus,” she asked at once, “ what was 
the tenor of the message from the spirits yester- 
day?” 

Cyrus was taken aback and had no time to 
frame an evasive answer. He repeated as nearly 
as he could remember the words of the medium. 

“ Cyrus,” she said, looking around to assure 
herself that her confidences were not overheard, 
“something whispers to my waking senses to-day 
that not the spirit of the dead but the heart of 
the living is in that message.” 

“ Do you mean, then,” said Cyrus, “ that the 
son of Antigone still lives ? ” 

“Nay, I know not; I only know that in my 
trance yesterday I was not agitated and torn as 
I usually am. I feel to-day as if I had uttered 
the longings of my own heart, and was not con- 
trolled by demons, for I do not feel as aforetime, 
after an evocation of the spirits of the dead, that 
I am a slave to other wills and lost in a horror of 
great darkness. Methinks I have had a true mes- 
sage from the god of light, not of the evil spirit. 
What if it should be so, Cyrus, my friend ? Would 
the words bear this out? Am I not held in the 
power of the prince of this country ? Am I not 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


79 


separated by a mysterious river of fate? Am I 
not practically a slave ? ” 

Cyrus was impressed against his better judg- 
ment. He could see that the language was am- 
biguous, and that to Simon and Antigone, with 
their prejudgments concerning the dead, it might 
mean one thing, and to Iole, with her consuming 
desire to be restored to her mother and her home, 
it might mean something quite different. 44 But 
consider, Iole, if the spirits give us so uncertain a 
message, how are we to hold our own power over 
them and over *our clients? What will Simon 
say to this, when he learns that the evocation of 
Supreme Science has revealed to him nothing but 
the sentimental longings of a girl ? ” 

Iole rose with a quick movement of anger. It 
was the first time Cyrus had noticed an accent of 
scorn in her voice. 44 Call you the hunger of the 
human heart for a mother’s love nothing but the 
sentimental longings of a girl ? Oh, ye gods ! 
how long will men mock us with dreams of happi- 
ness and power, while they torture our hearts by 
denying our natural affections their just satisfac- 
tion ? I tell thee, Cyrus, my heart speaks to-day 
and claims its own treasures against the will of 
gods and men.” 

This was flat treason against Simon and the 
spirits. If it were known or even suspected 
by the magician it would call down disaster upon 
both their heads. The evident sincerity of Iole 


80 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


and her new spirit of independence strongly- 
affected Cyrus, and in the quiet of his own mind 
there arose a strange tumult between these new 
ideas and his inbred superstitions. 

The minds of all three were relieved for a little 
while and an explosion prevented by the demands 
of the temple service, which even to Simon was 
of greater interest than the fate of Lady Antig- 
one. The Megabyzus had engaged Simon and 
his company for the harvest ceremonies. As the 
work was not of the exacting kind required by 
the evocation of individual spirits, there was little 
fear of any outbreak or inconvenience for the 
present on the part of Iole. 

Simon and Cyrus were required to take part in 
the processions of the goddess, and to work some 
of their most marvelous tricks both in the market- 
place and in the temple. This was a very simple 
service, for the reputation of both men was now 
firmly established with the multitude as necro- 
mancers, soothsayers, palmists, and masters in all 
tricks of legerdemain. They were regarded as a 
necessary part of all the shows, which formed so 
large a part of the amusements that were offered 
to the mixed multitude at the great shrines. In 
the oracles, where Iole was called upon to assist, 
the absence of the Lady Antigone seemed to allow 
the old ideas to resume their sway, and she per- 
formed her part to the admiration of Simon, and 
completely set the fears of Cyrus to rest. 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


81 


This engagement brought Simon great honor 
and considerable wealth ; but, most important of 
all, it gave him an established reputation with the 
people from all parts of Asia and Europe who 
flocked to the worship of the great Diana of the 
Ephesians. It was in those days that Cyrus 
learned what was expected of a magician by the 
people, and how intimately the burdens and griefs 
of their life were bound up with magic. He felt 
in his heart that it was little the magician could 
do, but he was gratified to know that even for that 
little there was a vast return of reverence and 
wealth from the popular belief. One feature of 
the life of the time strongly affected Cyrus. This 
feature was the gaiety and luxury of one class of 
the people, and the disease and poverty of the 
multitude. He noticed in the crowds which as- 
sembled for worship at the temple an eagerness 
and spiritual hunger on the faces of some, and a 
brutal indifference to the pain and suffering of the 
sick on the part of others. The city, as one of the 
Greek poets has said, was “ at once filled with the 
perfumes of sacrifices, songs and groans.” 

As an interpreter of dreams Cyrus was partic- 
ularly skilful, and in the lesser events of life, 
such as the explanation of the night hawk’s cry, 
the cracking of the finger joints, the shooting of 
stars, the itching of one’s skin, the meeting of 
dogs, asses or other unclean animals in the wrong 
place — all these and many more such events that 
6 


82 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


harassed and tormented the life of the people 
with fears, Cyrus could wisely explain. He prided 
himself on his power to foretell by omens, dreams 
and prodigies the future happy and evil events in 
the life of his clients, and in the divinations of 
the astrologer he considered himself superior to 
Simon. His hereditary skill evidently stood him 
in good stead in all branches of astrology, and 
Simon felt the pang of jealousy concerning this 
branch alone. But in the darker secrets of black 
magic Simon possessed an evident superiority. In 
some instances he had secret audiences with sol- 
diers and merchants from which Cyrus and Iole 
were carefully excluded. It was while Cyrus was 
worried and piqued over this apparent slight that 
a gipsy fortune-teller offered him some gratuitous 
information one day. The man had been at- 
tracted, as many others of the lower soothsayer 
class had been, to the home of Simon by his vast 
reputation and by the hope of getting employment 
in the minor services of the craft. 

“ The genius of your life,*’ said the gipsy to 
Cyrus, “is afraid of Simon’s. When it is alone its 
port is erect and fearless ; when his approaches it 
is dejected and depressed.” 

This remark made Cyrus uneasy, and the 
thought came to him that possibly Simon was 
using him as well as Iole for purposes of his own. 
A dark flush of shame overspread his cheek at the 
thought, for was not he a Median and the de- 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


83 


scendant of Magi for more generations than 
Simon could count years of his base-born life? 
This idea embittered his days amid the outward 
success of the 44 Hall of Magic.” 

One day Simon announced to Iole that she 
would be required to perform in an evocation of 
.the black magic for a service of revenge, and 
entered into particulars as to the case. He was 
annoyed to see that she received this proposal 
with signs of aversion, and he chided her for it. 

44 Know you not, girl, that these evocations of 
revenge are the greatest achievements of our 
craft? I have m*ore wealth and more influence 
from one such event than from one hundred who 
seek only to restore communication with friends. 
Does aught trouble you ? Of late I have noticed 
you love to be alone, and neglect the gay dresses 
and music, and have but an indifferent interest in 
much of our doings.” 

44 1 thought you wished me to be much alone,” 
replied Iole ; 44 and indeed I care not for the pro- 
cessions and the crowds of people. I should be 
satisfied to have one friend alone in my life, whom 
I could love and confide in.” 

This speech astonished Simon. Accustomed as 
he was to regard the self-suppression of woman as 
a religious duty, and seeing no blush in the face 
of Iole, he could not interpret it as a request for 
her bestowal in marriage. 

44 What mean you ? ” he replied in a tone of 


84 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


asperity. “ Modest maidens are not thus accus- 
tomed to show their forwardness.” 

The blush now covered the face and neck of 
Iole, and added to the mystery in Simon’s mind. 
“ I have heard the voice of the spirits of late tell- 
ing me of the nearness of my long-lost mother. 
This, and not the thought of a lover, is in my 
heart.” 

These words broke from her with a spirit and 
sincerity which completely staggered Simon for 
the moment. It was but for a moment, however, 
for he quickly recovered himself. “ Is that all ? 
Let no such idle fancy deceive you. Why should 
the spirits concern themselves about your long- 
lost mother at this late date ? ” This in a sneering 
tone which roused Iole, for she knew where her 
power lay. 

“Reason enough for their concern now, since 
fate has interposed to give meaning to the voice 
of the spirits.” 

“ ‘ Meaning to the voice of the spirits ! ’ What 
mean you? What gives meaning? You are mis- 
led by some idle girlish fancy.” 

“ I never uttered a truer oracle, Simon ; for 
since I heard the voice of Antigone I feel in my 
deepest soul that she is kin to me.” 

This was serious enough to keep Simon cool, 
for, like all crafty villains, danger to himself gave 
him instant coolness and subtlety. “This shall 
be enquired into, Iole. If Lady Antigone can 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


85 


lay claim to you we shall take steps to restore her 
daughter to the lady.” 

This unexpected concession deceived Iole, as it 
was intended to do, and lulled her into a false 
security. But Simon was greatly alarmed at her 
words, for he at once recalled the statement of 
Antigone about her losing a child. And the 
penetration of Iole or, perhaps more wonderful, 
her occult power, which the magician was ready 
to allow that she had, decided him that not a mo- 
ment was to be lost if he was to retain in his pos- 
session so valuable a medium. He was now a lit- 
tle in awe of her, for this last incident impressed 
him, as it had Cyrus, that Iole was endowed with 
rare powers of divination. 

Iole, when she next met Cyrus, was beaming 
with delight. He saw in her eye a light of joy 
never noticed before. 

“Some good news has come to you, Iole; it 
makes our rather serious household more like a 
happy Greek home to see you so pleased.” 

“ I am indeed happy, Cyrus, and ashamed, too, 
that I have judged Simon so harshly. He has 
promised to enquire of Lady Antigone concerning 
her early history and it may be the good pleasure 
of the gods to restore me to my home.” 

“You will leave us then with little regret when 
you find your kin, Iole. We shall miss you sorely 
in our work, but still more your gracious presence 
in the house.” 


86 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


A flush of pleasure mounted to the face of the 
girl; she felt a slight pang of regret to leave pleas- 
ant companions, and Cyrus had always been con- 
siderate and gentle with her. She little knew 
that at that moment he was proving himself a 
truer friend than ever; for he knew that Iole’s 
hopes in Simon’s generosity were worse than 
groundless. He knew also that her loss meant 
great disaster to their schemes, but he was sin- 
cerely attached to the friendless girl, and of late 
the feelings of Cyrus had been more than ever 
quickened by her genuine love for mother and 
home. They seemed to pierce through the crust 
of professional pride and ambition, and create in 
his own breast a longing for home love and kin- 
dred. But his keener penetration, or at least 
greater knowledge of the character of Simon, told 
him that this unwonted generosity was all pre- 
tense. He was torn between his sympathy for 
Iole and his professional ambition. Should he 
warn her or should he keep silence, and allow 
Simon to practise his deception upon the poor 
girl? 

A summons from Simon prevented decision. 
Simon was deeply agitated. “ What think you, 
Cyrus? The foolish fancy of a girl is coming be- 
tween me and the accomplishment of one of the 
greatest triumphs of my art. She has delicate 
scruples, forsooth, against an evocation of revenge, 
and all but flatly refuses to pronounce the curses 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


87 


of black magic on the enemies of my clients. 
Have you noticed anything strange about her 
recently ? does she long for anything ? ” 

Cyrus hardly knew whether Simon was taking 
him into his confidence or trying to find out how 
much he knew of Iole. He answered with cau- 
tion. “ She speaks at times of the joys of home, 
and envies the maidens who live surrounded by 
their kindred. But lately she has been more 
cheerful than ever. I have never seen her more 
bright and gay than this afternoon.” 

“That is because I promised to satisfy her 
fancy; but the thing is preposterous. We cannot 
wreck the great plans of wise men for the idle 
dreams of a slave girl.” 

“Is she indeed a slave girl, Simon? I thought 
she, too, was your ward like myself, and indeed 
she seems to have been so treated by you.” 

“ It matters not in reality,” retorted Simon ; 
“ she is not free to come and go. The man who 
has the Great Secret is not lightly to change his 
purposes at the whim of one who has no kin to 
support her claim.” 

Cyrus was struck with the cold, heartless indif- 
ference of Simon, which jarred on the youth’s 
feelings in spite of his hereditary instincts and 
Oriental education. He had known women only 
as obedient, self-suppressing attendants on man’s 
plans and pleasures, and if Iole had quietly sub- 
mitted to Simon’s rule it would have been, in 


88 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Cyrus’ eyes, the proper thing. He was moved to 
pity this girl ; he loved her with at least a genial 
camaraderie ; she was esteemed in a peculiar sense 
for her gifts, and a sense of fair play was roused 
in him on her behalf. If she was so indispensable 
to the magician, if her gifts were so rare and 
peculiar, why should she be treated as a slave? 
The wild dream flashed through his mind for one 
moment of proposing to Simon to treat her on a 
perfect equality and awaken her affection and in- 
terest for the great future before them all. But 
the thought died within him ; all he could manage 
to say was a plea for gentleness and patience. 

“ Iole has her moods like all women, Simon ; 
this will pass and she will soon be reconciled to 
the fate of the gods.” 

“ Then let us help the matter by a change of 
scene. We shall leave Ephesus at once. Our 
fame ha,s gone before, and a new field may be bet- 
ter for all interests.” 

“ What shall be done about the Lady Antig- 
one ? ” asked Cyrus. 

“ She must know nothing of our movements. 
All the trouble has come from her meeting with 
Iole. The girl has got it into her head that An- 
tigone is her mother. Likely story, indeed ! 
Prepare instantly to leave for Jerusalem, and the 
sights and scenes about Syria may cure these 
megrims in the brain of Iole.” 

This change of plan was a concession by Simon, 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


89 


but he saw that his plan of a black magic curse 
on the Megabyzus by which he might get posses- 
sion of the treasury must be given up. 

When Iole learned that Simon and his house- 
hold were about to leave Ephesus without giving 
her an opportunity of meeting Antigone, she 
broke out in a passion of indignation against 
Simon. Much was to be allowed for the shock 
which the disappointment gave her. She was 
hardly responsible for her language. Simon with 
his cool insolence replied that this showed she 
was quite capable of the best work in the curses 
of black magic. She was like a caged bird beat- 
ing her wings against the bars of her prison, and 
she broke down in a torrent of tears. She felt 
that bitter pang which the shipwrecked sailor 
feels, drowning within sight of the lights of his 
own home. 

“ This captivity is to be forever, then,” she ex- 
claimed. “I must be a nameless obscure slave, 
and my gifts must lend luster to Simon’s renown. 
Rather a thousand times will I seek death, if home 
and love and mother are denied me. I will devote 
myself to the gods in death.” 

At the attempt of Cyrus to comfort her, she 
turned upon him with flashing eye. “ Why 
should I longer serve those gods? They have 
done only evil for me, their favorite oracle. I am 
only a superior sort of slave. I am robbed of all 
that makes life dear. Oh; when shall light spring 


90 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


out of the great darkness ? When shall hope 
come to the weary? I have heard it said that the 
‘ Desire of all Nations ’ shall come to comfort and 
bless men. Tell me, Cyrus,” she added, in a 
pleading tone, “you are learned: when shall He 
come, who will deliver us from the power of evil 
men and spirits and bear our sins and carry our 
sorrows ? ” 

The tone of her voice, the dignity and reasonable- 
ness of her thought impressed the young Median 
deeply. They roused feelings long suppressed, 
for one of the common traditions of the Magi 
was the expectation of a great Deliverer, who 
should claim the allegiance of all the world by 
his marvelous works and supernal wisdom. 

With the memory of this great tradition of 
Magian lore Cyrus answered, “I am but young in 
our great art, and many parts of the 4 Secret Ar- 
canum ’ are yet hidden to me, but events of late 
point to the nearness of the fulfilment of this 
world hope. Many of our wise men sought the 
land of the Jews years before I was born, and 
brought our people back word of a wondrous 
Babe born of a line of kings. Who can tell? 
Perhaps we are being led to this famous city for 
the purpose of learning more of his life and works. 
If our traditions are true, he will be the head of 
power and the secret of wisdom for all the Magi ; 
and with such gifts as ours fame and happiness 
may await us in this Jerusalem.” 


THE HALL OF MAGIC 


91 


“Cyrus,” said the girl, “it is ever fame and 
power with you. I look for one to lead me into 
peace. I cannot much longer bear this anxiety 
about iny home and kindred. I am torn body 
and spirit by these evocations, with all their dread 
uncertainty. I do not have the satisfaction even 
of knowing that they help others. I cannot bear 
to see their anxious faces, and their burdened 
spirits looking out at me through their eyes. 
Oh, if the gods pitied men, as I do, they would 
speak plainly to them in a language they can un- 
derstand! If the gods have power why do they 
not succor their devout worshipers?” 

This conversation calmed somewhat the agita- 
tion in the breast of Iole, and turned the thoughts 
of Cyrus back upon the hopes of the East and 
the expectations of the people for a healer of 
hearts and a reveal er of secrets. “Was it possi- 
ble,” he asked himself, “ that anything had come 
of the wonderful Babe whose birth and future 
greatness the Magi had spoken of in terms of the 
highest admiration and hope ? Might not the near 
future reveal secrets of power far greater than any 
that Simon possessed? Was there a chance for 
him to ascertain for himself alone some of those 
secrets ? Ah, if that good fortune might happen 
to him, the spirit of Simon might yet quail before 
his own!” Thus in dreams of fame and power 
Cyrus came with Simon and his party to Jeru- 
salem. 


CHAPTER VI 


STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER 

The city was ringing with a story which at 
once attracted the attention of Simon. A violent 
quarrel had broken out in some of the synagogues 
of the foreigners who met in Jerusalem over 
the perpetual obligation of the law of Moses. 
Stephen, an eloquent Greek-speaking Jew, had 
been heard to say in the synagogue of the Cili- 
cians that the law of Moses was not of perpetual 
obligation, and that the grace of God had ap- 
peared to all men in the person of the Messiah, 
who was Jesus of Nazareth. 

This Jewish discussion might have attracted lit- 
tle attention beyond the walls of the synagogue 
but for the character and abilities of the chief dis- 
putants. Stephen had found an opponent worthy 
of his spirit and wisdom in the person of a young 
Hebrew zealot named Saul. When these two men 
faced each other in public debate the coldness 
and formality of the synagogue service disap- 
peared before the breath of a new spirit, which 
had evidently taken possession of the souls of 
men. 

Consternation sat upon the faces of the more 
zealous Hebrews, who met together at the house 
92 


STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER 


93 


of one of their number just after one of the 
stormiest of those debates. “This base heresy 
must be crushed out,” said Hainan, a tall fierce- 
eyed Jew, who acted as leader among the com- 
pany. “Not content with accusing us with the 
death of the Nazarene impostor, they are now 
boldly proclaiming the change of our national 
customs and the destruction of this Holy Place. 
Here this very day the Greek-speaking dog de- 
clares the Gentile equally the child of God with 
the sons of Abraham. Surely not in vain has the 
proverb of our people been spoken, ‘ Cursed be he 
who teacheth his son the learning of the Greeks.’ 
If this son of Belial had not been corrupted with 
those Greek customs, he had never dreamed of 
setting up the barbarian dogs as the favored of 
heaven. But this new evil is only what might be 
expected when our rulers fail to put a stop to the 
unlettered ravings of fishermen and Galilseans.” 

This speech deeply moved a young man of the 
company on whom all eyes presently turned. He 
was the rising hope of the stern unbending Phari- 
sees, and had distinguished himself as a student 
and man of affairs in the party. He was a slight, 
unimpressive figure, with deep-set dark eyes, but 
with the lofty brow and air of sincerit} r which 
plainly marked the man of thought and convic- 
tion. 

“ Fathers and brethren,” he said, “ our own neg- 
lect of the customs and traditions of our holy 


94 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


prophets returns upon our own heads this day. 
Who among us speaks with the spirit and convic- 
tion of this man Stephen? Verily, we are con- 
founded because we have lost our zeal for the law 
and the sacred customs. Who among us are pre- 
pared to stop this mouthpiece of treason against 
Moses? Who will find witnesses to swear before 
the high priest concerning this unbearable affront 
to our most Holy Place ? ” 

At this direct appeal a clamor of voices arose 
and hardened zealots were easily found to accuse 
Stephen of the crime of treason against the law 
and the temple. 

It was while the agitation was going on which 
led up to this final resolve that Simon and his 
party arrived at Jerusalem. The discussion might 
never have reached their ears except that the ac- 
tions of Stephen meanwhile were of a kind that 
attracted the attention of people not usually in- 
terested in differences concerning the law. 

The “ New Way ” had already spread with great 
rapidity among the lower classes of society in Je- 
rusalem ; and before many months had passed the 
brethren of the new faith found themselves with 
a great following of people who needed food as 
well as teaching. Nothing daunted at this, the 
rich sold their houses and lands and laid the 
money at the apostles’ feet, an evidence of their 
fresh, warm love to the dear Master and his needy 
brethren. So great grace was upon them that 


STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER 


95 


none lacked and distribution was made to each 
according as any one had need. In various parts 
of the city they met for prayer and the love feast, 
and rich and poor, barbarian, Scythian, Greek and 
Roman, bond and free sat as brethren around a 
common table to adore a common Lord. 

Into one of those secret meeting-places a youth 
came one evening, vouched for by an elder of 
Phrygia, who had come into this grace at Pente- 
cost. He drew the eyes of the others upon him- 
self very soon by pleading the cause of the Greeks 
and other Gentiles outside of Jerusalem. 

“Our fathers received the law,” he said, “not 
for themselves alone, but that they might be the 
teachers of the nations. And now the Anointed 
of the Lord has come, who is to be the light to 
lighten the Gentiles and the glory of his people 
Israel. Not alone in this holy city are these glad 
tidings of great joy to be preached by us, but over 
all the wide lands where the weary sigh for peace, 
and the cruelty of men makes the love of Jesus 
the greatest need of burdened hearts.” 

To some this talk seemed dangerous, but to oth- 
ers it gave great joy. But when in after days in 
the synagogue the young man disputed with the 
bitterest zealots of the Hebrews for this universal 
extension of the love and grace of God, they saw 
that the Holy Ghost was upon him. 

It was in the course of his ministrations among 
the poor of the city that the striking manifesta- 


96 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


tions of power in Stephen came out. Not satisfied 
with speaking of the “Jesus Way,” Stephen and 
his fellow workers went down among the people 
who were sick and lame and broken in life, and 
wrought great wonders and signs among them. It 
was not surprising that Simon heard of the fame 
of this gifted youth, for all Jerusalem was ringing 
with it. Simon was attracted because of the 
miracles which he did and wondered if he could 
find in Stephen’s teaching the source of this 
miraculous power. In the furtherance of this end 
he sent Cyrus to learn about him, and the Median 
magician first heard the strange story of the “ New 
Way ” from the lips of the Greek enthusiast. 

That night Cyrus had a strange story to tell 
Iole. She was sitting with a calm, restful look 
upon her face, for Simon’s preoccupation with 
Stephen had relieved her from exacting labor of 
late. She received Cyrus with a smile and look 
of interrogation. 

“ What news, Cyrus ? You look as if you had 
found the Great Arcanum at last.” 

“I know not, Iole,” he replied in thoughtful 
tone, “ but I have seen strange things to-day. I 
have seen one possessed of powers, enough to make 
the gods envious, use them for the healing of poor, 
obscure wretches and take no recompense and 
seek no power.” 

“ What,” said Iole, in a tone of slight alarm, 
“ has a greater than Simon appeared ? ” 


STEPHEN THE WONDER - WORKER 


97 


“Yes; a greater than Tresmegistus himself, 
Median, Greek, or Jew. He speaks only, and the 
evil spirits obey him. I can see plainly that Simon 
is disturbed about it, for this wonder-worker takes 
no fee and works for love alone. But that is not 
all of the mystery attending this strange youth ; 
he speaks, as one possessed, concerning a certain 
Jesus in whose name all this is done. Verily, 
could I meet such a master he should have the al- 
legiance of my life ; for he alone can be king of 
the magicians.” 

Iole was now deeply interested. “ Tell me, 
Cyrus, might I not also attend one of the gath- 
erings of these people ? From what you say con- 
cerning them no evil could befall me there.” 

“It might be arranged,” replied Cyrus, “but I 
mistrust Simon will not like it.” 

A little company, evidently on very friendly 
terms with each other, met in the long, low, upper 
chamber of the house of one Nicanor. Iole and 
Cyrus were both struck with the unaffected sim- 
plicity and true kindness shown by the company 
in the ceremony of washing one another’s feet. 
They sat around the table as brethren and sisters, 
talking of common interests and one great hope. 
Yet there was a note in the talk which always 
eluded the Greek girl and the Median youth. A 
Presence seemed with the others which was un- 
felt by them. He was spoken of as “ the Lord ” 
and “ the Holy One ” ; yet they talked of him as 
7 


98 


GYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


of a friend present in their company. What could 
all this mean, and how could this adoration of an 
unseen Lord bring about those tender feelings ? 

To-night the company was strangely agitated 
over the rumors of persecution from the Hebrew 
party. 

“Our trust is in the Living God, but I pray for 
the beloved brother on whom this sore trial will 
fall.” Those words were spoken at the close of 
the feast by an elderly priest, who had become 
obedient to the faith recently. His words pro- 
duced a deep agitation in the company, and look- 
ing on Stephen he said, “ Happy is he whom the 
Lord chooseth for this great honor. On his brow 
already I see the fadeless crown of martyrdom, 
and his name shall be held in sacred memory close 
beside the Master whom he loves.” 

Stephen turned with a reproachful gesture to 
the old priest, as if warding off a blow. His face 
shone with a radiant light reflecting the strong 
spirit within. “ It is enough, brethren, that God 
hath shown us the wonders of his great love in 
giving us a gospel for all men. I shall give my 
life with joy and not grief, if the blessed Christ 
shall see fit to spread through my death the 
knowledge of his free grace to all nations. How 
glorious to us, too, when the word of the prophet is 
fulfilled that not here in one sacred spot alone, and 
to one favored people, but to all races is the word 
of this gospel sent and in all places may the Holy 


STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER 


99 


One be found ! — for he saith, 4 The heaven is my 
throne, and the earth the footstool of my feet : 
what manner of house will ye build me ? or what 
is the place of my rest ? Did not my hand make 
all these things ? ’ ” 

Iole was fascinated.* The freshness and bold- 
ness of the religious ideas came upon her hungry 
Greek heart like bread to the famishing. She had 
thought the “ Jesus Way ” was nothing but a new 
Jewish heresy, a difference between the Sadducees 
and Pharisees, or the Hebrew- speaking and Greek- 
speaking Jews concerning the customs and law of 
Moses. It suddenly fla.shed upon her mind that 
she, too, though a despised Gentile, was a child of 
promise. 

“We are glad to welcome to our company to- 
night,” continued Stephen, “ the sons and daugh- 
ters of those who aforetime were outside our na- 
tional promises. Surely the joy of the Holy Child 
Jesus is ours to-night, as when the beloved Philip 
brought the Greeks to him. It is the earnest of 
the coming hosts of the saved of every nation ; for 
by the power of his deathless love he shall draw 
all men unto him.” 

Iole and Cyrus were rather embarrassed by this 
public reference to them, but there was an entire 
absence of display and such an eager glance of 
love from the face of this gifted man that they 
both felt that it was the hour and sacrament of 
their new life. They had come more out of curi- 


100 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


osity, as in Iole’s case, and for knowledge, as in 
Cyrus’, but this man had laid the spell of his great 
spirit upon them, and they found themselves re- 
garded not as outcasts but children of the divine 
heritage. The thought coursed through their souls 
like the sweetness of love in spring. For indeed 
it was spring in the souls of those spiritual out- 
casts. They spoke little on the way home, and 
on the morrow events came hurrying with an un- 
expected swiftness that almost brought disaster to 
their new hopes. 

“ Cyrus,” said Simon next day, “ the disturb- 
ances concerning this new doctrine make our stay 
in Jerusalem unprofitable, and besides, if those fol- 
lowers of the Nazarene work miracles for love, our 
profession will soon be despised. I had thought 
at first when I heard of the new wonder-workers 
that they were men of wisdom and high powers in 
our craft, but I find them fanatics without spirit 
and ambition.” 

“ Why, Simon,” retorted Cyrus, “ herein is a 
very marvelous thing, that these men work greater 
wonders than we do, and yet they possess nothing 
but the power of the name of the Nazarene. Is 
this name, then, of greater mystic power than the 
incommunicable word of the great Kabbalah?” 

Simon looked at Cyrus as if he had suddenly 
seen a hare changed into a panther. “ How now, 
son of the Median, hast thou, too, laid thy boasted 
wisdom at the feet of the Nazarene? Is the heir 


STEPHEN THE WONDER - WORKER 


101 


of a line of Magi to become a healer of the sick 
and a menial to wash the feet of the base outcasts 
of Judaea? ” 

Simon touched Cyrus to the quick. He was 
proud of his Magian descent, as a prince or priest 
is proud of his ancestry. A cold sweat stood on 
his forehead : he had not at first seen all that al- 
liance with the followers of Jesus involved. Si- 
mon’s scornful words brought the awful alterna- 
tive rudely to light. He knew, however, that 
Simon had been greatly impressed with the won- 
ders wrought by Stephen. What could have dis 
appointed him ? 

U I thought,” replied Cyrus, “that Stephen might 
reveal to me the secret of his power ; and no one 
can deny his mighty works. If the works are 
great, why should we despise the workers because 
they do not use their power as a means of getting 
riches and honor? ” 

“Such men have no spirit,” retorted Simon, 
“ and the service of the poor and mean is degrad- 
ing to men who are the equals of princes. If the 
squalid beggars of our streets are to be subjects of 
our art, how can we expect to rise to positions of 
honor among rulers ? ” 

Cyrus replied with some spirit. “The object 
of a master of the mystic art is not riches and 
power, but knowledge and the mastery over men. 
We may gain that knowledge among the very 
poorest, and power comes to those who know.” 


102 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“ Enough, Cyrus ; you are but a young master, 
and must be led by me. We need not only knowl- 
edge but wealth and consideration, and that is far 
from the reach of those who serve widows and 
sick outcasts in the purlieus of Jerusalem.” 

“I fain would know more of their teaching,” 
said Cyrus, “and prefer not to leave Jerusalem at 
present.” 

Simon was chagrined at this but suppressed his 
feelings, calmly confident that his stronger will 
would override the more gentle Cyrus. 

Simon’s new plans fell with a shock of surprise 
on Iole and awakened her also out of a sweet dream 
that was steeping her senses in forgetfulness of the 
grim reality of her life. 

“Dear Cyrus,” she asked, “think you Simon 
suspects our attachment to the ‘New Way,’ or is 
he only jealous of the great powers of the disciples 
of the Nazarene? ” 

“ Partly both,” replied Cyrus, “ but principally 
jealousy. I think he sets little store by either 
your opinion or mine ; we seem to be but puppets 
on his string. Why should we not learn of this 
new Master if he can show us more than Simon?” 

“ Cyrus, my friend, I have already learned much 
of our new teachers ; they speak to my heart and 
give me something of the joy I long for in my 
mother’s iove. When they speak to me of Jesus 
I forget my loneliness and misery, and I seem to 
hear my mother’s voice. I used to be consumed 


STEPHEN THE WONDER - WORKER 


103 


with eagerness, and oppressed with fear concern- 
ing the messages of the gods, but this message fills 
my heart with peace. Oh, Cyrus, is it possible we 
shall see the true light in the teaching of this lowly 
Nazarene ? ” 

“I cannot deny,” said Cyrus, “the might of the 
miracles which Stephen performs, but the spirit in 
which he works and the objects of his regard mark 
him out as no master of our high art. It is strange 
that one so gifted should seek out the refuse of 
humanity and keep his own name in the darkness, 
when priests and princes might own his sway. 
We need to know something more of the secret of 
this ‘New Way,’ for the doings of those people are 
truly strange.” 

“ But, Cyrus, you must know that I, too, have 
had my little adventure. Rhoda, one of the 
maidens whom I met in Nicanor’s house, came to 
me to-day bringing with her a sick maid who was 
taken with convulsions in our presence. She 
tended the stricken thing as if she had been her 
sister and prayed over her in an agony of love. 
I was at first in a great terror, but became calm 
as I saw this girl, no older than myself, brood 
over and care for the child. A rush of great ten- 
derness came over my spirit and I laid my hands 
upon the writhing frame of the demon-possessed 
one. I stroked her cheek and spoke in her ear, 
trembling, but in hope, a sacred name. She re- 
laxed in my arms as one dead, but I held her near 


104 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


my heart and worked over her. At last she 
opened her eyes and looked into mine with a gaze 
in which hope and love seemed to chase out fear 
and horror of the past. Rlioda looked on sur- 
prised but kindly. ‘ No need for me to take the 
maiden to Stephen,’ she said, ‘you seem to have 
power over the spirits yourself.’ What think you, 
Cyrus, was the name I whispered in the ear of 
that sick child ? ” 

“ I know not,” he answered. 

“ It was the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 
Cyrus,” she exclaimed, with something of her old 
fire, “ she who has spoken that holy name in a 
service of mercy cannot again pollute her lips as 
the oracle of Apollo or Diana. I did it trem- 
blingly but in hope. I trust it was in no presuming 
spirit, as if I possessed power. But a great wave of 
love rushed in upon my soul and I became as one 
possessed by the power of Jesus. Rhoda bade 
me go with her and tell the others, but I could 
not. She desires me also to go with her on some 
errands among the sick poor to whom she minis- 
ters, but I am afraid. I cannot presume to be a 
wonder-worker ; I can act only as my soul is moved 
with the great love-gift to help some stricken life. 
What think you, Cyrus? Has not this token of 
favor from the Lord Jesus engaged me in a man- 
ner to his service? How can I seek the spirits 
that peep and mutter since this voice of sweet 
reason and love has spoken to me ? ” 


STEPHEN THE WONDER - WORKER 


105 


Cyrus was deeply moved by this recital ; a 
light of courage and resolution not often seen in 
his eye appeared in it now. “ Iole,” he replied, 
“ this is a strange story, but why should it not be 
so? I heard them say there was no difference, 
neither Greek nor Jew, male nor female. The 
difference may lie in the measure of loving. Can 
it be that the humble heart that only loves shall 
know more than the aspiring mind that seeks for 
knowledge and power?” He was speaking this 
last more to himself than to Iole. 

“ She may know more than Simon or myself,” 
he thought, “ for she loves more. Iole,” he add- 
ed, aloud, “ we must be free to follow this fur- 
ther. I will seek the house of Nicanor again and 
I will find a safe lodging for you. I myself will 
join the company of the young men about Ste- 
phen and if the light of the great secret of life is 
to be found in this way, Cyrus is man enough to 
own the leadership of the great race who gave us 
Moses and the prophets. I shall soon learn also 
from the lips of the apostles if the Nazarene was 
not the wonderful Babe whom our own Magi wor- 
shiped. It may hap that all the wisdom of Me- 
dia, Greece, and India is hid in the secret of that 
merciful life. I am at least my own master, and 
I know no legal claim, Iole, that Simon has on 
you.” 

Such a resolution could not long be concealed 
from the shrewd penetration of Simon. He was 


106 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


in a fury at what he called the base ingratitude of 
Cyrus and the apostasy and duplicity of both him 
and Iole. 

“ You propose to serve the peaceable Nazarene, 
and throw Simon and his gods to the winds, do 
you?” he asked. “You have read Simon to little 
purpose these years if you think he can be so 
easily set aside. As for you, base son of a line of 
prophets and magicians, your own gods and the 
spirits of your ancestors will be furies enough 
to whip your craven soul. For you, Iole, misled, 
I deem, by feelings which had better been sup- 
pressed, I shall take care of you.” 

Iole trembled and blushed under the imputa- 
tion. Simon was a man of great force and iron 
will, and he seemed to dominate the gentler spirits 
before him. Yet, strangely enough, it was the 
woman who answered him. 

“There are some things, Simon, beyond the 
power of the greatest magician or his atttendant 
spirits. Where love has come into a heart, fear 
or hate cannot enter. It is true that I am moved 
by the feelings of my heart, but they are not of 
the kind your ignorance imputes to me. I love 
the Nazarene, and already have done service for 
my love’s sake. You might carry my body with 
you in chains but my spirit owes allegiance to the 
Christ.” 

This utterance had the effect of calming Simon, 
for he saw he had exposed himself to effective re- 


STEPHEN THE WONDER - WORKER 


107 


ply by his outburst. He felt he was dealing with 
a new danger, more from Iole than Cyrus. It 
was evident that the clear, sane glance of Iole’s 
eye was quite unlike the old dreamy glaze of fury 
which marked the medium and oracle of the gods. 

“No more of this. I have other plans for our 
life than the service of outcasts and beggars ; the 
honors of courts and the pleasures of Greek cities 
will brush these fanatical fancies from your brains. 
One could expect little else in this nest of crack- 
brained zealots. Cyrus, you will please follow 
me ; Iole needs rest and leisure.” 

As soon as they were alone Simon broke out 
upon Cyrus in a fury half acted, half real. “ Cy- 
rus, you are mad to throw away your life for this 
base, fanatical dream. Have you forgotten that 
you and I were meant to be rulers of men, not 
servants ? And what servants, too ! Servants of 
slaves and beggars ! Come, Cyrus ; we are mas- 
ters of knowledge, we have the great secret of 
power, and we are meant to be rulers of kings, 
companions of priests, dictators to conquerors, for 
we are the masters of spirits at whose names the 
ignorant fanatics of the world tremble. I am 
confident of the future : it holds fame and for- 
tune ; I can see Imperial Rome at my feet. You 
are my greatest pupil, and for you I see a more 
than royal power, a career of honor and a life of 
pleasure.” 

Simon had worked himself into a frenzy of ear- 


108 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


nestness and, though the wish was father to the 
thought, his words turned out to be largely a true 
prophecy of his own future career. The magician 
had as yet a stronger grasp upon the superstition 
of the people than the religious teacher had upon 
their faith and reason and love. It was no slight 
test of the new life in the soul of Cyrus when such 
an impassioned appeal was again made to his pride 
of race and his vanity as a magician. Yet it was 
his high ideal as a seeker after truth that stood 
him in good stead at this critical moment. 

44 1 cannot deny what I have seen and heard,” 
said Cyrus. 44 These men do works which surpass 
all our mightiest conjurations. I seem to have 
found a greater master. How can I shut my eyes 
to the evidence of my senses ? How can I refuse 
to follow one who seems to possess a greater se- 
cret?” 

Simon turned upon his former assistant in a 
fury. “You choose, then, to consort with out- 
casts, beggars and apostates. You renounce your 
former master and cast in your lot with the off- 
scouring of the earth. Go ! But hark ! you shall 
suffer for it ! Simon has some power yet, and you 
will live to learn that fact. This pestilent sect 
shall receive a blow, and that quickly, which will 
fall on the heads of its highest and humblest alike.” 

Simon, who made it his business as a soothsayer 
to know every religious and political cabal as well 
as every domestic event, knew of the intended 



“GO! BUT HARK! YOU SHALL SUFFER FOR IT.” 






STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER 


109 


prosecution of Stephen and no doubt wanted to 
impress Cyrus with his supernatural foreknowl- 
edge of events. 

Cyrus returned to his own apartments greatly 
shaken by the anger and vindictive spirit of Simon. 
Yet he was greatly astonished at himself. He 
knew his own weakness, and that he was rather 
wanting in decision of character. He was all the 
more surprised at his own firmness in holding to 
the one point about the facts which he had seen 
and heard. He was sure he could not be far 
wrong when he stood on such a foundation. He 
was astonished how little Simon had to say against 
this attitude. 

Cyrus went to seek Stephen and his company to 
inform them of the new state of affairs and of the 
danger in which both Iole and he were placed 
from the wrath of Simon. 

Simon no sooner saw the rebellion of Cyrus 
than he resolved to frustrate as far as possible the 
plans of his former pupil. He already had around 
him a company of lewd fellows of the baser sort, 
hangers-on of his profession, who always followed 
a man of his reputation. He summoned them to 
an evocation of vengeance. He found Iole in 
tears but commanded her presence in the Hall of 
Magic. She dared not disobey, for in the absence 
of Cyrus she was without a friend among the vile 
creatures of Simon. She obeyed trembling and 
in her secret heart calling upon her new-found 


110 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


but unseen Friend. She was filled with an unex- 
pected calmness, her mind became unusually 
clear, and a sense of strength came to her quite 
unlike her former lassitude and dependence when 
preparing for an evocation of the spirits. 

Simon appeared in a flame-colored robe, with 
bracelets of steel, and without the magic rod ; but 
in its stead a magic dagger. On his head was a 
garland of absinth and rue, and on his hand a 
steel ring. Perfumes of alum and sulphur arose 
from the altar. On his head was a black cap on 
which were the characters of Saturn. 

Iole was not informed of the design of Simon 
to curse Cyrus ; but she was aware of a strong 
feeling of aversion to the proceedings. The ap- 
paratus of magic never appeared so mean and re- 
pulsive in her eyes, and a great horror came over 
her as she observed the preparations. In evoca- 
tions of vengeance the oracle is not expected to go 
into a trance of fury, but to simply work herself 
into a state of anger against the object of revenge. 
She was quite aware of all that was passing, and 
beheld the clairvoyants, fortune-tellers, low sooth- 
sayers and other hirelings whom Simon had help- 
ing him, with unconcealed disgust. 

Simon, she noticed with more dread, was in a 
cold, silent rage. He was most to be feared in 
such a state. She had taken her position behind 
the hangings at the rear of the altar, and Simon, 
with the dagger now bare in his hand, stood ready 


STEPHEN THE WONDER-WORKER 


111 


for the final act. In the early ceremonies he had 
cursed in the name of the evil spirits of darkness, 
the organs and limbs of Cyrus, and called upon 
the powers of air and earth and water to withhold 
their gracious service from him. Now he whipped 
out a small image of the youth from under his 
mantle and with a swift, vengeful motion struck 
the dagger of magic in its heart upon the altar. 
Whether Iole had seen the image, or surmised the 
purpose of Simon because of the absence of Cyrus 
from the seance it is difficult to tell; but instead 
of uttering the words of the curse from the demon 
at this juncture, she astonished and confounded 
Simon by saying in a calm, resolute voice, 
“ Blessed are ye when men shall revile and curse 
you for the sake of the Christ. Bless them that 
curse you, pray for them that despitefully use 
you, for so shall ye be the children of your Father 
in heaven.” 

The blessed words were so unexpected, the con- 
trast between the looks of hate and revenge on 
the faces of Simon and his hirelings and the sweet 
courage of Iole was so great, that for the moment 
the ministers of evil were paralyzed. Simon col- 
lected himself and with a deep curse commanded 
the two black slaves to smite her on the mouth. 
She was dragged unconscious from the room and 
lay long in a swoon. 

Simon, finding his seance broken up, rushed in 
to find her still unconscious. Fearing now that 


112 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


he had killed her, he blamed the slaves for their 
unnecessary brutality. He had forgotten by this 
time his own brutal order. But in his momentary 
fury he might himself have killed her. For noth- 
ing is so fatal to the efficacy of the magic circle as 
a word of reason, and nothing is so destructive of 
the power of evil as the name of Jesus, and noth- 
ing is so sure to kill a vengeful purpose as the ut- 
terance of a beatitude. Iole had committed all 
these crimes against black magic and had broken 
the magic wand of Simon. 

Slowly recovering from her swoon and pros- 
trated by the shock and brutal treatment, Iole lay 
between life and death. The strain of the past 
was now telling upon her ; and Simon saw that 
his own anger had endangered his plans, and 
would surely delay his flight to Samaria. Frus- 
trated in his desire to curse Cyrus, he turned to 
the more vulgar plan of waylaying him. He 
knew that he would make some effort to see Iole 
again, and he armed his servants and the hireling 
soothsayers to wait for him on his return. 

Cyrus found the company at the house of Nica- 
nor in a state of great agitation. He almost for- 
got his own little troubles in the deep grief of the 
disciples. Stephen had been haled to prison and 
the brethren were in deep sorrow. They felt that 
a new danger threatened their very life. A strong 
party of zealots had sworn to have the life of the 
man who had blasphemed against the Holy Place. 


STEPHEN THE WONDER -WORKER 


113 


It was no longer a case of preaching Jesus but a 
question of the supremacy of Moses and the 
temple. It was the hate of the priest and the 
Jewish zealot against the Greek and the layman 
who proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God 
for all men, Jew and Gentile, bond and free. In 
the excitement and apprehension no one had time 
or inclination to listen to the story of Cyrus. In- 
deed, he could see himself that to thrust forward 
his own woes in face of this greater danger to the 
life of the faith, would be selfish and foolish. 

But Cyrus also felt a call to service. He felt 
that his place was beside Stephen or at least to go 
and learn as much as possible to comfort the 
others. Not being publicly known as one of the 
disciples of Jesus, he thought he might make his 
way to the prison, or at least find out something 
at the house of the high priest. 

Cyrus found the court of the house of the high 
priest filled with an excited crowd. The greatest 
confusion prevailed and he enquired of one man, 
who appeared calmer than the others, “ What 
treason or murder has so stirred up the people, as 
to turn night into day in the house of the high 
priest ? ” 

“ Treason enough,” retorted the man. “ There 
is the ringleader of the pestilent sect declaring 
that Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place 
and shall change the customs of Moses. Our 
rulers have been too lenient with those apostates 
8 


114 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


and traitors ; but one hath appeared of late among 
us who has some of the fire of the old avengers of 
the law and customs. He has laid accusation 
against this vile Greek, and it will go hard with 
him to escape the vengeance of the people.” 

Cyrus saw enough to convince him that a deep 
scheme of vengeance was laid against Stephen. 
He learned that he was already in the hold of the 
prison and carefully watched. After listening at 
several other groups, each one more excited than 
the other, he came away assured that nothing 
could be done to afford Stephen any help, or even 
reach him. 

The scene at the house of Nicanor, when the 
desperate state of affairs was told, greatly touched 
the heart of Cyrus. Women wept, strong men 
bowed their heads in anguish. The young deacon 
had in the short course of his ministry greatly en- 
deared himself to the others. He was among 
them not only a man of faith, full of grace and 
power, but one of the gentle, radiant spirits who 
bring light and joy into every company. It 
seemed so hard for youth and beauty and high 
spirit and wisdom to be called to face death so 
soon. His very fitness for standing the supreme 
test had especially endeared him to the disciples ; 
he was a brother, a teacher, a friend ; they could 
not reconcile their hearts to losing him. Cyrus 
coming at such an hour with an eager willingness 
to render service, was received with more. than 


STEPHEN THE WONDER - WORKER 


115 


usual warmth, and made his place in their hearts 
from that time. It was then first that he saw how 
this company of poor broken disciples carried 
their burden in the most natural and simple way 
to God. 

When he told his story there, one of the com- 
pany said simply, “ In thy hands, Lord, is the life 
of our brother Stephen. The rulers may gather 
themselves together, and the people threaten, but 
thou keepest thine own as the apple of thine eye. 
We commit our brother into thy keeping, and we 
beseech thee to grant him the spirit of wisdom 
and power, that with boldness he may answer for 
the faith of the Lord Jesus and confound his ad- 
versaries. Comfort him in prison and comfort 
our sore hearts for the loss of our loved and hon- 
ored brother.” 

Cyrus heard for the first time in this great crisis 
of his life a prayer that seemed to him simply as 
one man speaking to a strong, loving friend living 
and near him. It produced a feeling of peace and 
a courage and hope of which he was a moment 
before entirely destitute. The strong contrast 
between the utter simplicity of this prayer in a 
common dwelling-house, without altar or priest 
or ceremonial, and the elaborate, half mystical 
priestly ceremonial of the Asiatic Greek temples 
came upon him at first with a shock, and he could 
hardly believe that they were addressing the ob- 
ject of supreme worship. 


116 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


44 Shall God indeed dwell with men on the 
earth? Shall the eternal come into familiar fel- 
lowship with man? Can I speak to Jesus as I 
speak to a friend?” The thoughts of this kind 
that came upon his heart like a flood almost over- 
whelmed him. He never forgot that night in the 
house of Nicanor. Years afterward, in his jour- 
neys through Asia and in Greece, where he carried 
on the work begun by Stephen, he lived as one in 
the presence of the living Christ. If he had diffi- 
culties he would speak directly and simply to this 
Friend. If he was called on to face danger he felt 
his divine presence near him. He first learned 
then that communion with Jesus was just like 
fellowship with a friend. His ideas of worship in 
the Asiatic and Greek temples were largely con- 
cerned with the priests and mystic ceremonies 
and awful hidden powers, from whom the oracle 
was given in dark enigmatic utterances. He now 
saw a worship that was largely friendship exalted, 
disciples sitting at the feet of a kindly, patient 
teacher, companions in sympathy with a great 
cause making all experiences known to the leader. 
A warmth of love came into his heart that made 
the cold formalities of the pagan ceremonial like 
the foul, damp air of a grave. He sat like one in 
the balmy air of a spring morning looking into 
the pitch darkness of a tomb. 


CHAPTER VII 


THE MARTYR’S CROWN 

The young men of tlie company drew together, 
intent on some plans for the relief of Stephen, 
and before any decision could be arrived at the 
first fingers of the dawn were touching the hills 
and the housetops- Before long the streets and 
public places were filled with excited groups of 
people. They were turned mostly in the direc- 
tion of the temple, and with the others Cyrus and 
his companions found themselves near the “ Hall 
of Purchase,” on the left side of the temple mount. 

The Sanhedrin, seated in a semicircle, with the 
president in the center on a slightly elevated seat, 
were evidently as excited as the rest of the people. 
Stephen stood before them accused of the gravest 
crime which, in their estimation, a Jew could com- 
mit. The events of the previous months had con- 
tributed to rouse all the worst passions of the 
people, and to disturb the minds of the chief 
judges of the nation. False witnesses had sworn 
to his high treason ; and one could clearly detect 
the deep Jewish hatred against the Greek customs 
and liberal gospel which Stephen had preached. 

“We heard him speak blasphemous words 
against Moses and God.” 

117 


118 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“He ceaseth not to speak words against this 
holy place, and the law.” 

“We have heard him say, that this Jesus of 
Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change 
the customs which Moses delivered unto us.” 

Stephen’s serene demeanor attracted the atten- 
tion of all present. Looking at him, they saw his 
face as it had been the face of an angel. Cyrus, 
whose eyes never left the face of Stephen from 
the moment of his entrance, beheld this wonderful 
sight with a feeling of rapture. To him it was a 
signal proof of the divine presence in the soul of 
Stephen, and he was sure the Lord would give 
him a spirit and wisdom to confound his adver- 
saries. 

The high priest, aghast at the unheard-of au- 
dacity of an obscure provincial, asked of Stephen, 
with reference to the charges, “ Are these things 
so?” 

Stephen was undismayed by the falsehood of 
the accusations, and welcomed the opportunity to 
make confession of his faith before the chief court 
of his nation. His patriotic words were winged 
with a noble enthusiasm and the fire of a new 
spirit flashed from his eye. He arrested the at- 
tention and appalled the hearts of his judges, but 
this effect only roused them to greater fury, for 
the men who had suborned false witnesses would 
stop at no injustice. Cyrus, like all the others, 
was fascinated by the aspect and speech of this 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


119 


marvelous man. The feature of his address 
which arrested Cyrus’ attention most was the 
description of God as “ the Most High dwelling 
not in temples made with hands, but in the hearts 
of all believers.” 

The speech soon took an abrupt and awful turn. 
Stephen, now fastening his gaze upon the hard- 
hearted and prejudiced judges from whose sullen 
faces he expected nothing but death, became in 
turn their accusers. “ Ye stiff-necked and uncir- 
cumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the 
Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which 
of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? 
and they killed them which showed before of the 
coming of the Righteous One ; of whom ye have 
now become betrayers and murderers.” 

This awful denunciation fell upon them as if a 
dove had suddenly changed into a fierce eagle 
swooping down upon his prey. They felt the lash 
of his righteous indignation ; they were cut to the 
heart by the truthfulness of this indictment and 
they gnashed on him with their teeth. 

The scene of this dark tragedy for the moment 
faded from the eyes of Stephen. Those looks of 
rage and malice which might have affrighted any 
ordinary criminal did not flutter Stephen’s pulse. 
The Presence which at the beginning had shone 
from his face now appeared to his eye. He 
“ looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the 
glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right 


120 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


hand of God.” “ Behold,” he cried, “ I see the 
heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on 
the right hand of God ! ” 

The words were hardly out of his lips, when the 
now frantic crowd of witnesses, priests, and zeal- 
ots ran upon him and dragged him from the 
court of the temple. The frenzied mob made for 
the nearest city gate. Cyrus, who stood appalled 
at the awful suddenness of the turn of events 
found himself carried off his feet in the rush of 
the multitude. By the time they had arrived at 
the fatal spot he saw a company of men laying 
their garments at the feet of the leader of the 
prosecution. He was a man of marked personal- 
ity, and his face, though lighted with a fanatical 
fire, yet bore the marks of sincerity which re- 
deemed it from the vindictive^ passion of many 
around him. He hung his head as if ashamed of 
the rude and lawless manner of Stephen’s con- 
demnation or as if touched with the grandeur of 
the thoughts of the condemned man. 

The final scene of this fatal day Cyrus carried 
with him to his grave. Stephen, who had kneeled 
down as if in the presence of God, first prayed for 
himself, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” There 
was a courage and resignation about his action in 
strange contrast to the violence of his persecutors. 
The delicate, fragile frame of the martyr, for he 
was a slight man of a handsome countenance, 
seemed little fitted ph} T sically to heroically sustain 


THE MARTYR'S GROWN 


121 


this dreadful ordeal. But all this appeared as 
nothing when in the next breath Cyrus heard him 
pray for those who were stoning him to death : 
“Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” And 
when he had said this, “ he fell asleep.” 

Cyrus was one of the first of the little company 
of devout men who came around and claimed the 
body of Stephen. The calm, sweet smile which 
had come to his lips as he breathed his last prayer 
still lay on his face like a benediction to his 
brethren, as they folded the beloved form in their 
robes. The company of the disciples was dazed 
with the blow which they had received. Every 
heart was stricken with a great sorrow, every one 
felt bereaved as for a brother. The poor to whom 
he had ministered came in crowds to kiss his bier ; 
the widows mourned him as a son beloved ; the 
elders lamented for him as for a wise counselor, 
and the youths and maidens felt that a dear and 
honored brother and companion was lost to them 
forever. 

“ Rhoda,” said Cyrus, “ can you tell me why 
Stephen has won such a deep and tender love in 
the hearts of the brethren ? ” 

Rhoda looked at Cyrus as if yet uncertain of 
his intimacy with the disciples and afraid to say 
something that would be misunderstood. “I 
speak for myself, Cyrus, but Stephen first taught 
me that our Lord was the Saviour of all peoples ; 
and this love was the only witness to the indwell- 


122 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


ing of the Holy Spirit. He looked upon the heart 
and was always patient, gentle, and good to weak, 
suffering women and children. He had deep 
thoughts concerning God and the destiny of Israel 
as the custodians of divine truth to all the na- 
tions, and loved to debate in the synagogue with 
the rabbis and learned ones : but only within our 
closed doors, where the love feast and fellowship 
of his disciples made him forget the warring 
world without, could any one see the true soul of 
the noble Stephen. I am but a simple girl, ready 
to serve the sick and the poor. I have not gifts 
like Stephen ; but I know that my dear Lord still 
lives in the hearts of men, since I have known 
and loved his servant Stephen.” 

The simplicity and earnestness of Rhoda carried 
great comfort to the heart of Cyrus. The com- 
pany of young people to whom Stephen had been 
at once a leader and a friend were deeply inter- 
ested in this conversation between Rhoda and 
Cyrus. Seeing the kindling looks of his compan- 
ions he felt drawn into a warmth of expression 
which his companions little expected. 

“ I am but a novice in this way, but my heart 
burns with love to my own people. May the Lord 
Jesus who taught Stephen the noble truths of the 
gospel for the Gentiles lead me to know and speak 
this holy message to the people of my own flesh 
and blood ! ” 

It was a remarkable company. Jews of the com- 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


123 


mon people predominated, but one might see Ro- 
mans like Rhoda, Greeks quite a few, and now 
this Median, with his dark olive skin and lithe 
young frame, his eyes kindling with a holy zeal in 
complete contrast to the dark magical mysticism 
which had formerly lighted up his soul with an 
unholy frenzy. This little company was the token 
of the universal dissemination of the gospel into 
all lands, which fate, in the strange guise of a 
martyrdom, had now forced upon them. 

Another member of that company, whose 
presence among Christians was to mean much to 
Cyrus, was the Lady Antigone. She had been 
attracted to the Greek-speaking Christians both 
by the fame of Stephen and by the presence of 
some Greeks whose residence in Jerusalem formed 
a refuge for her. She had come to the city in the 
hope of tracing Simon, and the presence of Cyrus 
at the meetings of the disciples was a cause of 
great astonishment to her. 

Before recounting the story of her life, most of 
which became known to Cyrus subsequently, we 
must follow him to the house of Simon. The 
rush of events occupying the fateful night and 
day had forced all thoughts of his own or even 
Iole’s concerns from his mind. He now recalled 
with dread the crisis of his own fate. He little 
knew that his delay in returning had saved him 
from falling into a deadly ambuscade laid for him 
by the malice of Simon. He approached the 


124 


CYRUS THE 3TAGICIAN 


house of magic with foreboding ; the first glance 
was enough. The usual loungers were absent 
from the court. The girl who kept the door an- 
swered his question with a strange stare, as if she 
had seen a spirit. 

At last the girl managed to say : “ Simon and 

his household left with great speed early this 
morning. I thought you were of his company 
and had gone with him.” 

“Know you by what road they left the city?” 
Cyrus enquired. 

“ Nay, I know nothing further. Simon was not 
likely to tell his purposes to a girl like me.” 

The look of mingled disappointment and grief 
which appeared on the face of Cyrus went to the 
girl’s heart, and she searched her mind for some 
means of help. 

“Perchance the master of the house can direct 
you in this matter, but he is yet without, for you 
must know the wild doings of the day keep the 
men out late. I suppose they pretend to be set- 
tling the affairs of the nation.” 

“ Doris,” said Cyrus, “ I thank you for your 
offer of help, but I am principally anxious to 
know about Iole. Can you tell me if she was in 
any trouble when she left ? ” 

Doris, a bright, vivacious girl, looked rather 
troubled at this question. 

“ I liked not the conduct of those black slaves 
and the gipsy fortune-tellers,” she replied. “ They 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


125 


were rude, vile guardians for such a tender maid 
as Iole. I had thought you would have known of 
Simon’s intention yourself and protected Iole 
from their violence.” 

“ I was elsewhere, Doris, and knew not of the 
intended departure of Simon.” 

“Why, herein is a strange thing, Cyrus. I 
thought you were a great magician and deep in 
Simon’s confidence. If you knew not of his 
actions your magic was of little use to you in a 
time N when most needed. But, magic or no magic, 
men are never to be found where they are really 
wanted.” 

“You do well to reproach me for my absence 
from Iole in the time of her need ; but I was serv- 
ing another and forgot the trouble in this house.” 

“ But what other claimed your service rather 
than Iole ? ” inquired Doris, who was piqued with 
curiosity to know if Cyrus had a dearer friend 
than Iole. 

“I was with the company of the young men 
who stood by Stephen to-day.” 

This simple statement threw Doris into a state 
of utter bewilderment. Stephen, the disciple of 
the Nazarene — Cyrus the magician, the disciple of 
Simon ! She put the two together but it only 
confounded her simple brain. Was the world 
coming to an end? Were all old ideas unsettled? 
Were the temple and the old customs indeed to 
be turned upside down and destroyed ? As soon 


126 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


all these as a magician become a disciple of the 
Nazarene ! She needed not to speak a word. The 
amazement written on her face spoke more elo- 
quently than words. 

Cyrus first saw in the face of this girl the 
proof of the way the world would regard his 
change of thought and action. To him it was 
largely natural. He was led up to it in a manner. 
He had a great purpose in life, to find the truth. 
He had seen what he considered evidences of 
truth in the life and thought of Stephen the dis- 
ciple of the Nazarene. He had come gradually 
into this “Way,” getting something better than 
ever he had found in life before. He found his 
own life really richer, fuller, nobler than formerly. 
To him it was not a revolution, but a growth ; not 
an act of violence, but a coming to perfection. 
He saw in this simple, light-hearted girl’s eyes, that 
it was regarded as a tragedy, an apostasy, a turn- 
ing of old customs upside down, a desecration of 
sacred things. Had he counted on this ? Had 
he root and principle enough to withstand this 
aversion of the public eye, perhaps scorn for a 
wise man who had become foolish for Christ’s 
sake? It was well for him that he was able to 
say simply to Doris : 

“ One thing I know, Doris, that Cyrus the dis- 
ciple knows more than Cyrus the magician ; and 
Cyrus the disciple is willing to teach the outcast 
all his knowledge for the love of the Nazarene.” 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


127 


“Yes,” replied Doris, “I have often heard of 
the strange humility among the disciples of the 
new ‘Way,’ but if learned and gentle youths are 
to mingle among the base, it will turn away their 
hearts from the joys and pursuits belonging to 
their time of life. For my part, I think it a 
strange madness for a noble youth like Stephen 
to cast away his life for any differences of the law 
or service of the poor.” 

Cyrus felt his enthusiasm cooling down. Strange 
how effective is the contempt for our ideals in life 
of those under us in the social scale ! He did not 
know that even the apostle Peter had been brought 
to denial of his Master by the gibes and accusa- 
tions of a servant girl. 

“Doris, I thank thee again for your kindness to 
Iole and myself, and it may be that we shall meet 
again when we can speak of many things in the 
new ‘Way’ that are good for women to know. 
Our company contains many maidens like your- 
self who have no lack of joy and sweetness in 
their life since they became followers of the Naz- 
arene. How happy I should be to welcome you 
among us and bring you to their sisterly affec- 
tion ! ” 

“ Cyrus, you were always good to us in this 
house. I know not what need you had to change. 
Yet I, too, should be better for a kind friend to tell 
me more of things concerning the gods.” 

Cyrus felt a little afraid of the break in the 


128 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


voice of Doris, and hastened to say, “ I shall send 
you Rhoda, one of our kindest maidens. She 
will tell you many things, for she has brought 
many things to my mind hard for me to under- 
stand.” 

A shade of disappointment crossed the face of 
Doris — why, who can tell? — but she thanked 
Cyrus as he went. 

On his return to the house of Nicanor, he told 
the story of the llight of Simon and the fate of 
Iole. The disaster to one of their number was a 
cause of great grief to them all, for the Greek 
prophetess, though but a few times in their meet- 
ings, had attracted much attention. She had rep- 
resented to them a victory of the Lord Jesus 
over a form of evil which rooted itself deep in 
the life of the people of that time. Even the 
apostles had rejoiced that the spirits were subject 
to them, and they remembered with joy that some 
of the Master’s greatest works were done for the 
relief of those oppressed with demons. Cyrus 
and Iole appeared among them as spoils taken 
from the very citadel of the enemy. 

The next day Cyrus found Antigone and told her 
the news. She was greatly affected. It had been 
growing upon her mind for some time that the 
secret of her life was bound up with Simon. 
Cyrus was surprised into a premature revelation 
of what he knew by the look in her eye as he told 
of Simon’s disappearance. 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


129 


“ Had you any unusual reason for desiring to 
see Simon, Lady Antigone?” he asked. “You 
know since meeting with Stephen that Simon’s 
pretended knowledge is vain to help you recover 
your children.” 

“I had no reason,” she answered; “but I felt 
drawn to Iole, and, although I saw her but little, 
she was alone, a girl without a mother. I thought, 
perhaps, if I could not find my own child she 
might let me be a mother to her. I have felt this 
desire more strongly of late, and now that Simon 
has gone there seems to be an urgent pressure on 
my spirit to find her and offer her a home and 
love.” 

“ Lady Antigone,” said Cyrus, “ surely God is 
leading us in a way of his own, and I fear to speak 
of things that might raise a false hope in your 
heart.” 

Lady Antigone looked up in surprise. She 
noticed a restraint and emotion in Cyrus’ tone 
that moved her. 

“ Tell me all you know, Cyrus ; I can bear it. 
It may be a little hope will give me new courage. 
Since I have learned of Jesus I have new courage. 
I always had resignation : what I need now is just 
a little hope.” 

“ Lady Antigone,” said Cyrus, “ I know that 
Iole was stolen from her home in youth. She her- 
self is strongly of the opinion that she was stolen 
from Smyrna.” 

9 


130 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


At this, Antigone rose in great agitation and 
Cyrus ran to her, begging her to be calm and 
hear him further. At the mention of further 
news she sat down again, with a new light in her 
eye and a smile such as had not visited her face 
for many years. 

“Iole felt drawn to you, Lady Antigone, the 
first time she saw you, and much trouble resulted 
between Simon and her because of what he 
termed her foolish fancy for a strange lady. But 
there is stronger evidence than this. She told 
me of an old memory of the beautiful Meles and 
the terraced slopes of the city; and she carried 
round her neck a golden Homerian of Smyrna.” 

Antigone, as soon as she heard this, fell on her 
knees in an ecstasy of gladness and thanked God 
for the discovery of her child. Yet it seemed so 
hard to have seen and heard and touched her, and 
now to have her gone, she knew not where. But 
confidence in God soon took possession of her 
mind. 

“ It must be for our reunion that we have dis- 
covered so much. God could not intend to keep 
us separate forever when he has brought us so 
near once more.” 

Cyrus and Antigone now felt they must seek 
the counsel of the brethren. There were many 
of the company of the disciples who had traveled 
and would be in a position to advise them as to 
the pursuit of Simon. Cyrus had practically lost 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


131 


his all in the flight of Simon. Some little money 
which he carried with him and one or two of the 
jewels which he had inherited from his father and 
which never left his person, he still possessed; 
but the share of the wealth he had acquired in 
partnership with Simon was gone, and he had 
little hope of recovering it. Lady Antigone, how- 
ever/ still possessed sufficient means to meet all 
their wants, and, as he was in a measure serving 
her in the effort to recover her daughter, she be- 
sought him to consider her purse his own. 

When they came to the house of Nicanor they 
were horror-stricken to find it deserted and bare 
like a rifled nest. After some searching, they 
found Rhoda, who came out of a hiding-place, her 
eyes red and swollen with tears. 

“ What trouble has come upon the house of Ni- 
canor and the brethren?” said Antigone to the girl. 

She could utter but one word, through her sobs, 
“ Saul ! Saul ! ” — but that name was enough. Cy- 
rus recognized it as the name of the arch-persecu- 
tor of Stephen, and a great dread smote his heart. 

“ Is Saul seeking the lives of all the followers 
of Jesus?” asked Cyrus. 

“ He and his officers from the Sanhedrin have 
been here and to other houses haling men and 
women to prison. No place where the disciples 
of Jesus have been known to meet is safe. Some 
not taken are now in flight, and others are mak- 
ing ready to go.” 


132 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“ You must come with me, Rhoda,” said Antig- 
one, “ for you cannot remain longer here unpro- 
tected.” 

Rhoda gave her a look of gratitude and affec- 
tion which touched Antigone’s heart. 

On their way home, Cyrus told Rhoda of the 
conversation he had had with Doris, and in the 
plans they laid for winning her to the Jesus Way, 
they forgot much of their own grief. At the lodg- 
ing of Antigone, several of the brethren and sis- 
ters were found in waiting. They soon learned 
that the new persecution was bitter and deter- 
mined. Saul, as one of the onlookers at Stephen’s 
trial had said, was a new force in the Jewish life 
of the time. He was a man of commanding abil- 
ity, fiery zeal, and swift action. He had led the 
discussion against Stephen in the synagogue of 
the Cilicians, and as the leader of the prosecution 
had kept the clothes of those who stoned the first 
martyr. He followed up this terrible blow by 
repeated raids on the houses of the disciples, and 
the prisons were being chiefly filled with men and 
women attached to the Greek party of Stephen. 

This persecution was all the more bitter because 
it was headed by a man who stood for the national 
Jewish ideas and the sanctity of the temple and 
the law of Moses. The chief priests and elders 
now saw for the first time that the teaching of 
Jesus was really destructive of a merely national 
religion and a local temple worship and a select 


THE MARTYR'S CROWN 


133 


favored people, for it was boldly declared to be a 
universal religion, offered to every human heart. 
According to it God might be worshiped under 
the open sky or in the private dwelling, wherever 
a loving, humble, believing heart was found, with- 
out priest or altar or offering or temple. To the 
Jews this was heresy and treason in one breath. 
By the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, by his 
false condemnation and crucifixion, they had dis- 
inherited themselves of the promises. The adora- 
tion of Jesus and the preaching of life in his name 
were a direct condemnation of their action. The 
acceptance of the teaching of Jesus and the sub- 
mission of the heart to him were in their opinion 
treason to Moses. Saul’s commission from the 
chief priests to harry the houses of the followers 
of Jesus was therefore a civil as well as an eccle- 
siastical one, and cruel imprisonment and even 
death might follow. As soon as Antigone and 
her companions appeared, they were hailed with 
expressions of joy ; for many there had begun to 
mistrust their absence and dreaded to hear of their 
imprisonment. 


CHAPTER VIII 


FOUND AND LOST 

It was at once seen that the disciples must 
scatter abroad and wait patiently till happier days 
should arise, or until the first fury of the storm 
had passed over. Philip and a considerable party 
felt drawn of the Spirit to go to Samaria. Lady 
Antigone laid her case before the brethren and 
found an eager and willing group of volunteers to 
assist her in the search. 

Preparations were made for the journey, which 
was to be made upon the morrow. Whether the 
large gathering of the previous night at the lodg- 
ing of Antigone had attracted the attention of the 
spies or some previous knowledge had directed 
suspicion to this place, is hard to tell, but the next 
morning at dawn the officers of Saul entered and 
summoned the inhabitants to follow them to the 
chief priests. It was a great blow, and fell with 
special severity upon Lady Antigone, just as she 
was buoyed up with the hope and excitement of 
an active search for her child. Cyrus did every- 
thing in his power to comfort her, although he 
had his own fears of the outcome of the event. 
It did seem strange to him that the first moment 
134 


FOUND AND LOST 


135 


after his resolve to serve Jesus should find him a 
helpless prisoner in the hands of the foes of Jesus. 

“Who knows, Lady Antigone, but the road to 
Iole may lie through this prison to which we are 
bound? I have often noticed, in former days, 
when finding out the stories of those who came to 
us for help, that there were many happenings I 
could not explain. Perhaps God has a purpose 
in our life larger than our own plans.” 

“Yes, Cyrus, let our imprisonment be the first 
stage of our journey in the quest for Iole. I would 
rather wait in prison, with Jesus ordering my life, 
than be free of my limbs at the mercy of a blind 
fate, as in the old dark days. I shrink a little 
from the loathsome darkness, for since I have seen 
his light, I love the sunshine, and the flowers, and 
the open hillsides as never before ; but it may be 
the night will be as day, and the darkness light 
about us.” 

“Much may be learned in prison,” replied 
Cyrus, “ and the news of the city is often found 
among the loungers and riffraff one meets in such 
a place. I have myself frequented the prisons, for 
a magician must needs go everywhere. It is borne 
in upon my heart that God is leading us here for 
his own purpose. And even if it should be to 
death, the union of our lives with the dear ones 
whom we long for will be perhaps the sooner ac- 
complished.” 

Cyrus spoke somewhat in advance of his own 


136 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


experience ; not that he said .what he did not be- 
lieve, but he found himself called upon to express 
his opinions suddenly in order to support Antigone 
in her distress. Once spoken, his ideas crystallized 
into convictions ; and this experience may be the 
reason why at so early a date in his Christian life 
he became a leader. Times of trial force our 
growth ; we mature quickly ; we live years in a 
moment. The youth becomes a man when, on 
the sudden death of his father, he is called upon 
to be his mother’s comforter and defender. The 
recruit becomes a veteran after his first battle. 

Cyrus entered the Jewish prison, as he parted 
from Antigone and Rhoda, matured in faith and 
with manly courage, as the comforter and de- 
fender of those honored women, who had only 
him to look to in all the world. A flush of pleas- 
ure warmed his heart, which the grim, cold dun- 
geon could not destroy. He felt himself a good 
soldier of Jesus and this imprisonment but an in- 
cident of the warfare. Life had new zest and joy 
to him in the consciousness that he was the helper 
of those women, and the object of their thought 
and prayers. 

“ Rhoda,” said Antigone, “ I have hitherto loved 
Cyrus for his goodness to lole and his willingness 
to help me find her ; but to-day, as I parted from 
him, he showed himself to me in a new light. He 
is a stronger man than I thought. When I saw 
him beside Simon he seemed to shrink and hesi- 


FOUND AND LOST 


137 


tate. I think he was afraid of Simon ; but to-day 
he looked like one who could lead and act, and 
upon whom the heart of a woman might lean. I 
love him for his own sake, and I am sure he has 
found the secret of strength for his own life.” 

Rhoda was greatly pleased to hear Cyrus spoken 
of with such warmth and appreciation by Antig- 
one. She was glad to hear another, and one who 
knew the world well, confirm her own opinion. 
She had modestly concealed her own thoughts of 
the youth, but from the beginning he had exer- 
cised a strong fascination over her. She thought 
surely he was attached to Iole ; for who could be 
in her sweet and gracious presence without loving 
her? Had not Cyrus, too, many opportunities of 
knowing all her heart? Had he not suffered with 
and for her ? Had they not had secrets and ad- 
ventures in their strange life? With all those 
bonds of union he could not help loving her, she 
thought. They had come among the brethren in 
a common quest ; they had been identified in a 
common fate. Rhoda dreaded to know the fact, 
but, even against her own feelings, she felt it was 
only suitable that beings so linked in fate must 
also be linked in love. 

Antigone saw the glow of pleasure in Rhoda’s 
face, but said nothing of its cause. She drew the 
girl to her heart and said, “ Rhoda, dear, what 
think you of your new mother? For you will let 
me be a mother to you. I want to know again 


138 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


the joys of loving my own child; and even when 
we do find Iole I shall have two children, as at the 
first. My heart is large enough to love two 
daughters, and when Iole comes back to us she 
will find a sister as well as a mother.” 

Rhoda nestled close to the brooding mother- 
heart, and the prison became a home. The walls 
expanded, the darkness fled, the rude jailers disap- 
peared, and heaven’s freedom, light, and angel at- 
tendants ministered to her. 

On the morning of Simon’s flight from Jerusalem, 
so disastrous to Iole, she had been roused before 
dawn and hurried into a litter. She had offered 
a stout resistance to this violent and hasty change, 
and Simon saw that a new spirit had possession of 
the girl. But she was weak and spent from former 
ill usage and under the rough handling of Simon 
and the black slaves she was entirely prostrated. 
Her slave girl became alarmed for the condition 
of her mistress, and when the cavalcade was some 
little distance from the city, she besought Simon 
to tarry and allow Iole to rest and be ministered 
to. Simon, feeling pretty sure of eluding Gyrus, 
and unwilling to do anything unnecessarily violent 
to Iole, granted the request. They rested under 
the shade of some trees and Iole began to realize 
fully what had happened to her. She was torn 
from the happy fellowship just opening to her 
among the disciples of Jesus. She had lost her 
dear friend Cyrus. He had never appeared so 


FOUND AND LOST 


139 


dear, so friendly as at that moment. She felt her 
pulse throb quicker at the thought of his name, 
and was startled to find how much she depended 
on him for comfort and support. 

“ Can it be that I really love him ? ” she thought 
within herself. “I only know that life seems 
strangely lonely without his gentle offices and 
cheering presence. O Cyrus ! O mother ! 0 

Jesus! am 1 bereft of all? How can I live with- 
out you ? ” 

' She was interrupted by a tumult in the camp. 
Simon was having a loud altercation with one of 
the low soothsayers, a man of great pretensions 
and some smartness. Presuming on some fa- 
miliarity with Simon, he had been repulsed and 
had attempted revenge by carrying off the box of 
jewels and more valuable apparatus. He and his 
slave had just got ready for their return to the 
city, when Simon’s vigilant eye caught sight of a 
familiar package. 

“ Hold, you shameless thief ! ” shouted Simon 
to the man. “Would you rob me after all the 
kindness I have shown you ? ” 

Simon and his blacks were upon Clytus in a 
trice and had scattered his belongings on the 
ground before he could lift a hand to prevent 
them. 

He stood sullen and waited. He caught Iole’s 
eye. The look in it was partly of pity for the 
thief, partly sorrow for the sufferer. She begged 


140 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Simon to spare him. Simon dismissed him with 
words of contempt which rankled in the man’s 
breast. Turning upon Simon’s company, when 
at a pretty safe distance, he raised his hand and 
cursed him in all the formulae of black magic. 
Little did Iole think that the dishonored thief 
whom Simon had kicked out of his camp was the 
link of providence to bind her to home and love 
again ! 

The rest of Simon’s journey to Samaria was un- 
eventful, and Iole found herself more composed 
and resigned on her arrival in the city than she 
could have expected. The journey was restful 
and she was free from all calls for service as an 
oracle of the gods — the thing she dreaded most at 
present. 


CHAPTER IX 


simon’s triumphs 

Simon’s arrival was the cause of great commo- 
tion in Samaria. He was a native of the province 
and well known in the city. His recent fame in 
Ephesus had preceded him, and on his arrival he 
gave out that he had returned with many great 
secrets. We shall have little idea of the profound 
impression produced by Simon on the Samari- 
tans in those days if we do not call to mind that 
there was a great expectation among all the peo- 
ple at this time concerning the “Incarnation of 
God.” There was a great longing also for the 
appearance of some divine leader and teacher. 
Romans, Greeks, Samaritans and Jews alike felt 
the unrest and expected the “ Incarnation of 
God.” 

The new ideas spread abroad by Jesus had 
reached Samaria and caused a powerful excite- 
ment both among friendly and hostile minds. 
There was not only a yearning but a presentiment 
that “ there would soon be such a revelation from 
the spiritual world concerning the destinies of the 
human race as never yet had been made to any 
people.” Simon found the Samaritans ready to 
credit his lofty pretensions; and he was wonder- 
141 


142 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


fully fitted to impose upon them. His skill and 
resources in magic and knowledge of nature far 
surpassed those of any man of his age. 

The story of his life about this time is the 
great romance of this age of imposture. Here 
was seen the fullest play of the wizard, the spell- 
binder, and the sorcerer. But we must not make 
the mistake of supposing that such men were 
nothing but impostors. They were far in advance 
of their own age in the possession of those secrets 
of nature which in modern times we include un- 
der the term scientific knowledge. They were 
masters in the arts of legerdemain, and possessed 
all necessary apparatus for deceiving their audi- 
ence. Besides, these things from the remotest 
ages had been part of the Oriental worship of the 
gods and goddesses whose temples and cultus 
were in all the cities throughout Asia, Greece, 
Rome, and Judaea. The people accordingly ex- 
pected miracles, portents, oracles and all sorts of 
magical effects in connection with a message from 
the gods. They were like persons whose appe- 
tites had been vitiated by highly spiced foods; 
plain, wholesome diet was distasteful to them.,. 
All religion was associated in their minds with 
dread of the gods, whose anger, even when wor- 
shiped as local protectors, was easily aroused by 
ceremonial neglect; while many were even more 
dreaded as divine enemies. All religious cere- 
monies were dark mysteries and secret initiations. 


SIMON'S TRIUMPHS 


143 


Only the knowing ones got past the closely 
guarded gates, and could approach the mystic 
shrine. It was little wonder, therefore, that men 
©f aspiring natures, with resolute wills and crafty 
spirits took advantage of this superstition to raise 
themselves to positions of power. Rome itself, 
having lost its own faith, greedily welcomed the 
most absurd and degrading superstitions from the 
East. It was crowded with “hungry Greeks,” 
and “ Syrian fortune-tellers,” who flocked to the 
haunts of public amusement . 1 The Jews also, 
who possessed the noble revelation of their fathers 
through the law and the prophets, were now 
largely tainted with this Oriental mystery, and 
the Jewish beggar-women were The gipsies of the 
first century. It was most largely among women 
that all these cormorants and owls of Greece and 
the Orient found their prey. And as they de- 
graded their minds to submit to these supersti- 
tions and mysteries they became corrupt and fool- 
ish in their lives. Not only the women, however, 
were thus superstitious, but the spirit affected 
most eminent men throughout the empire, pro- 
consuls like Sergius Paulus, who had his sor- 
cerer, Elymas, who called himself the “Wise.” 
But how is our astonishment heightened when we 
think that a great general and resolute character 
like Marius ordered his campaigns by the divina- 
tion of a “ Syrian prophetess,” and Pompey and 
1 Conybeare: Life of Paul. 


144 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


Caesar sought information from Oriental astrol- 
ogy ! 1 If any one phrase could describe the con- 
dition of the people in those days it is “ religious 
insanity,” produced evidently by loss of faith in 
the early Jewish and Greek idea of one “ All- 
Father,” the good and powerful Protector of man 
as his offspring, and the incoming of the mystical, 
incoherent vileness of the Oriental religions. 

In such a rotten soil Simon, the arch-sorcerer of 
his time, had a prolific seed to sow. What he had 
seen and learned in Jerusalem gave him new con- 
fidence and audacity. He believed the time had 
come to make a great stroke ; he had reached the 
very climax of his ambitious projects. He was no 
longer content to act as a mere soothsayer, or 
wizard, who depended upon the spirits. He felt 
that the time was ripe for a transcendent claim. 

At a special seance, for which he had made the 
most elaborate preparations in a magnificently fit- 
ted-up Hall of Magic, he declared that God was 
ready to make a special revelation to the people. 
“ The spirits have made known to me,” he de- 
clared, “ that the time is ready for an Incarnation 
of the Power of God.” He had carefully led up to 
this event by many new exhibitions of sleight of 
hand and fortune -telling. He had been working 
such cures as were easily possible to men of his 
knowledge, especially of such nervous disorders 
as afflicted so many of the people in those times 
1 Conybeare : Life of Paul. 


SIMON’S TRIUMPHS 


145 


of excitement and religious fanaticism ; for Simon 
was a man of iron will and magnetic presence. 

In such service he found Iole not unwilling to 
help. Her oracular powers had waned of late, 
but her sympathetic powers had increased very 
greatly. Crowds of sick and nervously exhausted 
women flocked to their house, and Iole’s heart was 
touehed with a great pity for them. 

This new aspect of things greatly pleased Simon, 
and the elation consequent on all this success 
seemed to give him new confidence, if it did not 
add to his powers. The city was stirred to its 
very center; its citizens, from the least to the 
greatest, gave heed to Simon and looked daily for 
new portents. A confused idea of the teachings 
of Stephen, which he had heard in Jerusalem, and 
a perception of the marvelous effect such an idea 
would have upon the people led him to decide on 
this claim for himself. He was no longer content 
to be a prophet or oracle of the god, he desired to 
sit in the place of the god himself. 

When he had brought the people together for a 
fuller declaration of the truths revealed to him, 
he boldly announced, “ In my person resides that 
Power of God which is called the Great.” They 
received the awful words with a shout of welcome, 
for he had bewitched them with his sorceries. To 
them these words had but one meaning; for in 
the teaching of that time there were many pow- 
ers of God; bqt the supreme power was “The 
IQ 


146 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Great,” that is, the Incarnation of God, the visi- 
ble, present God in the flesh among men. Simon’s 
face was flushed with excitement and his step and 
eye gave indication of the daring resolve of one 
who had thrown caution to the winds. He was 
proud of his success and wondered at himself for 
any hesitation he had felt before. His satellites 
and hangers-on came forward to adore and flatter 
him. He had gained the summit of his ambition. 
He was greater than proconsul, greater than high 
priest or Megabyzus ; aye, he was greater than 
the emperor himself. In the secret place of his 
heart there was but one slight misgiving ; but he 
would give it no light, it should be a still-born 
thought, he would stifle it. Yet that wonder- 
worker, Stephen, would persist in coming to his 
mind. How easily he seemed to work those mir- 
acles, done for grace and love, too ! Away with 
the thought! Stephen was dead. No ghost of 
Stephen could rise to confront him and say he 
stole his ideas from the teaching of the Jesus 
Way, and no ghost of Stephen could work such 
miracles again in Samaria to put him to shame ! 

Iole was troubled at the new turn of affairs. 
She saw that these pretensions were inconsistent 
with the truths she had been taught among the 
disciples. A great dread filled her heart. She 
was alone, and she feared Simon in his new role. 
He did not depend on her oracles so much as be- 
fore, but if she showed the least sign of diso- 


SI3I0N } S TRIUMPHS 


147 


bedience or indication of betraying him, might he 
not be led to murder her? 

“ I fear Simon more than ever, Aroe,” she said 
one day, addressing her attendant. 

“ Why should that be so,” asked Aroe, “ since 
of late you have been helping him so well with 
the sick and troubled people ? ” 

“But you know, Aroe, I cannot believe Simon 
to be the Great Power of God, for I know him to 
be a haughty, selfish, ambitious man. God is the 
great Father, and Stephen taught us that Jesus 
came in the flesh- to reveal the Father. He was 
so different from Simon. He was gentle to women, 
gathered little children to his arms, and healed the 
sick for love. Oh, it is all so different ! How 
could God be. good if Simon is his Incarnation ? ” 

“ But are these things not too high for us girls, 
Iole ? You have had messages from the gods, and 
know mysteries, but it is all beyond a poor slave 
like me.” 

“ Aroe,” said her mistress, in a tone of gentle 
sympathy, “ my messages from the gods always 
agitated and confused me. I knew little or noth- 
ing of what I had uttered when I came out of the 
trance. What I knew I often learned afterward 
from Cyrus. I would he were here now to help us 
lonely girls.” 

“ Perhaps he will come soon,” said Aroe. “ I 
thought the disciples of Jesus could ask anything 
of him in prayer.” 


148 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Iole was rebuked by this echo of words which 
she herself had spoken to Aroe, when explaining 
her belief, but which she was now forgetting in 
her own need. “ That is very true, Aroe, and I 
thank you for reminding me of prayer to Jesus. 
I am so young in the faith, and was torn away 
from the breast of my dear nursing mother, the 
Church in Jerusalem, before I had very much of 
the milk of the Word. Will you too pray with 
me, Aroe, for when two pray they say the Lord is 
present? ” 

And these two helpless, lonely girls prayed to 
the Lord Jesus to give them light in their great 
darkness and direct their friend to them in their 
time of need. 

“ Lord Jesus,” said Iole, “ we need thee near 
us, we desire to be taught more fully in thy Way ; 
send Cyrus to us, for we are alone and need his 
help and comfort, and if it be thy will restore us 
to the fellowship of the brethren again.” 

“ But, Iole, why do you pray for me as if I 
were one of your sisters in the Lord,” asked 
Aroe. 

“ Are you not a helpless girl, too, Aroe ? ” said 
her friend and mistress. “ You must know that 
the Lord Jesus loves you just as he loves any of 
us who are in the fold.” 

“ How can that be, Iole, since you are his 
friend? Does he not love his friends better than 
those who &re without? Besides, I am but a 


SIMON’S TRIUMPHS 


149 


slave girl, and great lords and priests regard us as 
dirt beneath their feet.” 

“Dear Aroe, I met among the company at 
Nicanor’s house a woman out of whom the Lord 
had cast seven demons. He helped her before 
she trusted him ; he must have loved her before 
he helped her. He loves us all first, and it is 
when we come to know that that we love him so 
in return. They used to repeat a saying of his 
own, 4 She loved much because she had much for- 
given.’ ” 

“ It seems too wonderful to believe it all,” said 
Aroe ; “ it is so unlike what our own priests and 
magicians tell the people. Perhaps I shall get to 
know it by and by.” 


CHAPTER X 


SIMON DEFIED 

Simon’s success had given him great confidence 
in himself and he had relaxed his vigilance over 
Iole. She had a good deal of liberty also, as his 
attention was withdrawn from her peculiarities 
by the requests for help which came to him from 
many of the Samaritan cities. During one of 
those journeys, while Iole remained in Samaria, in 
the absence of Simon, Iole and Aroe were attracted 
by a small company who were talking earnestly 
together at the entrance court of a house. Iole 
thought the faces of one or two of them very fa- 
miliar. and, looking more closely, she recognized 
Timon, one of the disciples. Her heart leaped to 
her mouth ; she almost fainted with joy. Aroe, 
seeing the agitation of her mistress, withdrew her 
veil and bade her rest. This attracted the atten- 
tion of the men, and Timon, seeing Iole, came and 
greeted her with warmth, for the carrying away 
of the Greek prophetess by Simon had agitated 
the whole company of the disciples. She was 
taken to the house where the women were lodged 
and on the way learned of the awful doings in 
Jerusalem and the dispersal of the disciples. 

“ Stephen has indeed entered into his ghny, 
150 


SIMON DEFIED 


151 


and it is death to preach the word in Jerusalem,” 
said Timon, “but we have come to Samaria to tell 
of the grace of God to the Samaritans.” 

Iole’s eyes filled with tears at the tragic story 
of Stephen’s death, but when the friend of 
Stephen told how he died with a prayer on his 
lips for his enemies, she said, “We ought not to 
weep for such an entrance ; it is more like a 
triumph than a defeat.” 

“But this is not all,” said Timon; “we are 
daily expecting Philip, on whom the mantle of 
Stephen has fallen. Perhaps he is already come.” 

Iole received this news with great pleasure, but 
saw at once that it was heavy with meaning to her 
own life. What would be the consequence of the 
meeting of two such men as Simon and Philip on 
the battlefield of Samaria ? 

On the following day Philip came and began 
preaching at once to the Samaritans the good tid- 
ings concerning the kingdom of God and the name 
of Jesus Christ. After a few days, as the words 
and works of Philip became known, they caused 
the wildest excitement among the followers of 
Simon, but many of the people were struck with 
the difference between the two men. 

“ This man,” said a Samaritan, referring to 
Philip, “ does no miracles like Simon. As for his 
crucified Saviour, who shall set much store by 
one who had no power to save himself from those 
dogs of Jews ? ” 


Ij52 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“ Yes,” said the other ; “ he does no miracles 
like Simon : in that speakest thou truly. His 
miracles have been done quietly by the bedside of 
the sick and without pay or reward.” 

The last speaker was a man of mixed race, 
Alexander by name, who had been long waiting 
for the coming of some one from Jerusalem who 
should make known more fully the new doctrines. 
On his visit to the city he had seen Jesus himself 
and had been impressed with the things then done, 
but he had not fully understood them, and since 
the coming of Simon had hoped against hope that 
another would yet come to withstand the proud 
pretensions of the magician. As soon as he saw 
Philip he recognized the same type of character, 
the same simplicity, tenderness for the sick, and 
love of the poor and weak, that had marked the 
Master and his apostles. 

“ And I tell thee, Sanballat,” continued Alex- 
ander, “as soon as Simon returns we shall see in 
a striking fashion who is the teacher come from 
God and who from the demon.” 

“ You had better warn your friend,” said San- 
ballat, “ that Simon is not a man to be trifled 
with. He is a master of the great Secret Ar- 
' canum, and controls demons as we order our 
slaves. Besides, he has a mighty company in 
Samaria, who have sworn allegiance to him as the 
Great Power of God. Let your evangelist be- 
ware of the lion’s paw.” 


SIMON DEFIED 


153 


“ Philip needs no warning. He is not an actor 
playing for fame or for money. He comes to tell 
the story of Jesus’ life, and he is doing works of 
kindness and power in that name. Only yester- 
day, when we had gathered to him privately some 
sick and lame and paralytic people, he healed them 
before our eyes. Indeed, it was entirely unlike 
Simon in many things. He had no dark rooms 
and magic apparatus to confuse the people, and 
he sought no reward or honor for himself. All 
he desired was the glory of another. When the 
distracted mother of a poor paralytic whom he 
had healed fell at his feet and kissed them in the 
excess of her gratitude, he took her by the hand 
and said, * Sister, it is Jesus whom you must thank 
and from now love with all your heart. For by 
faith in his name is your child healed.’ The 
action was so kindly done and the spirit of the 
man so humble, that we all felt as if the Master 
himself had been present. You can tell for your- 
self, Sanballat, if that is the way Simon performs 
his wonders.” 

On Simon’s return he found the place in a fever 
of excitement. His assistants were unable to 
give him full particulars. All he could learn 
from them was that one of the followers of Jesus 
had come from Jerusalem and had drawn consider- 
able attention to himself. Simon at once thought 
of Stephen. “Can he have risen from the dead? 
Impossible!” Yet he could not quiet his own 


154 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


fears. He must find out at once what the precise 
nature of the danger was. He should see Iole 
first, for he remembered that she also had been ac- 
quainted with the disciples at Jerusalem. 

He was alarmed to learn that she was not at 
home. He enquired of the doorkeeper and found 
that Iole and her attendant had been abroad 
frequently during his absence. He cursed himself 
for his carelessness. He now went to the oppo- 
site extreme and thought that Iole was in some 
plot against him. He impatiently awaited her re- 
turn. While doing so he cast his eyes over the 
arrangements and apparatus of his Hall of Magic. 
He recollected long afterward how vividly all his 
past struggles and present triumphs flashed be- 
fore his mind in a moment. He missed Cyrus, 
and his defection was an acute pang. He re- 
membered Stephen and his short, brilliant, noble 
career of power and unselfishness, and this was a 
source of dread. Why could he not escape the 
rivalry of that crucified Nazarene ? First Stephen, 
now Philip, must cross his path ; first Cyrus, now 
Iole must be lost to him ; and that, too, when the 
very crown of his professional glory had been won. 

This bitter soliloquy was interrupted by the 
entrance of Iole. She saw at a glance that Simon 
was under some deep feeling. 

“ You have often been away from the house 
during my absence, Iole. Where have you been 
going? ” said Simon, in his calmest voice. 


SIMON DEFIED 


155 


“ I have been frequenting the company of the 
disciples of Jesus, who have lately come from 
Jerusalem,” she replied. 

Iole was astonished at herself. She had had no 
time to prepare for such a direct question, yet she 
found herself speaking calmly and feeling a strange 
assurance and quiet in her heart. 

“ You might have known that such conduct was 
inconsistent with your obedience to me,” he 
pursued. 

“ I know no oath of obedience I have ever taken 
to you, Simon, that would prevent me from going 
where the truth is spoken.” 

“ My position with the people here requires that 
all my household refrain from attending wander- 
ing preachers,” urged Simon. 

Iole looked Simon squarely in the eye. He 
shrank from her gaze. There was a tone of sar- 
casm in her reply which stung Simon to the 
quick. 

“ Indeed, Simon, it is true we ought not to at- 
tend wandering preachers, for we ourselves were 
so lately of the obscure crowd that we may well 
remember how worthless are the pretensions of 
such people ! ” 

“Would you mock me, girl? Know you not 
in what estimation I am held by the people of 
Samaria, and how needful it is that all of my 
party should carefully guard my honor? But 
enough of this. I have other work to do than 


156 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


to stand bandying words with a silly girl, who is 
led away by her feelings for a company of out- 
casts. I shall take care in the future that you 
shall see less of this precious band of Greek youth 
from Jerusalem ! ” 

The base insinuation of Simon silenced Iole, for 
in the matter of her modesty and good name she 
could put up no defense against him. 

“ Tell me what kind of works Philip has been 
doing in the secret meetings of the people,” Simon 
demanded. 

Iole felt herself somewhat revenged already. 
She saw at once that Simon was afraid and more 
than usually troubled. 

“ Why should the ‘ Great Power of God ’ be 
so anxious about the wonder-works of this obscure 
disciple of the Nazarene ? ” replied Iole. “ The 
favorite magician of the Samaritans has surely 
nothing to fear from the rivalry of an outcast 
Grecian.” 

“ Iole,” said Simon, and his rising voice and 
darkly flushed face indicated a dangerous passion, 
“ this is a matter of more than life and death to 
me. I am to-day the master and lord of all 
wonder-workers, but the crowd is fickle and will 
turn to the man who does greater works than 
mine without the least regard for my feelings. I 
love life and wealth, but I love power more, and I 
would rather die than see my power taken from 
me. If I thought you were playing me false and 


SIMON DEFIED 


157 


had betrayed my secrets to this Philip, your life 
would pay the forfeit in an hour. Tell me at 
your peril, does he work greater works than I do ? 
Has he command of stronger spirits ? ” 

Iole felt that the supreme crisis of her life had 
come ; she dared not falter, she dared not deny. 

44 Simon,” she said, 44 his works are as different 
from yours as his spirit and purpose are. He has 
no preparations nor occult seances ; he has no as- 
sistants and no oracle ; he speaks in the name of 
Jesus, and the sick are healed, the blind receive 
their sight and the demon-possessed are restored 
to, a sound mind. He takes no money, and he 
asks no honor. He is not proud or ambitious, 
and lie is kind and friendly among his brethren, 
as well as gracious and helpful to the women and 
children.” She noticed a slight sneering move- 
ment of Simon’s lips, but heeded it not. 44 Many 
of the people are already giving heed to his teach- 
ing, for it comes with the same simplicity and con- 
viction as his works come. It is like warmth and 
light to be in his presence, and the house of these 
disciples is as different from this place as a palace 
is from a prison.” 

There was a tone of defiance in the last words, 
as if Iole had resolved to utter all she felt and 
knew, and let the worst come to the worst. 

44 Prison then it shall be, Iole ; at least I con- 
gratulate you on your candor. I know now what 
I have to expept from you \ but oue traitor at 


158 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


large is enough for a little while. Meanwhile, 
you will be saved from further excursions, and 
since you are now evidently won over to this 
pious fellowship your maidenly modesty will be 
more carefully safeguarded.” 

To Iole, left to herself, the future looked dark, 
and a hopeless, despairing feeling took possession 
of her heart. But it was only for a moment. 
There was a reaction when the sting of Simon’s 
words had gone out, and the conviction that it 
was better to be done with all uncertainty gave 
her new courage. One thing, however, had come 
to her pretty much as it had come to Simon, that 
there was some fateful conjunction between the 
religion of Jesus and the supernatural pretensions 
of Simon. To him it was a source of dread, to 
her it was a cause of hope. He had left Jeru- 
salem and it had followed him here ; he had 
eluded Stephen and he had been followed by 
Philip. She puzzled over it for a long time. She 
knew something was impending that boded no 
good to Simon, and yet she dreaded the actual 
conflict, knowing his resources and iron will. 

The first effects of that iron will were to be 
felt by herself. Simon saw from his controversy 
with Iole that she had given her heart to the new 
teaching, and, fearing her presence in the crisis he 
felt was approaching, he resolved to send her to 
Damascus. In the early dawn of the next day he 
had all his preparations made, and sent Iole with 


SIMON DEFIED 


159 


her slave Aroe on the journey in the care of one 
of his assistant soothsayers and the two black 
slaves. Simon, who was in great doubt as to the 
turn that events might take, and wanted to secure 
himself in the possession of Iole, gave his assistant 
strict orders concerning her disposal and bade him 
await further instructions in Damascus. 


CHAPTER XI 


LIGHT IN THE PRISON 

Clytus, the soothsayer who had been so sum- 
marily expelled from the camp of Simon, was not 
yet at the end of his troubles. Driven desperate 
by the loss of all his possessions, he and his slave 
had wormed themselves into the confidence of 
some travelers as fortune-tellers and soothsayers, 
and in the night had robbed them. They were 
people of some consequence in the city, and the 
next day strict search was made for the thieves. 
They were found and cast into prison. 

Cyrus after a few days met Clytus, and Cyrus 
soon perceived by certain signs and marks that 
Clytus was a member of the magic craft. He was 
careful, however, not to let Clytus know for what 
cause he was in prison lest this change of mind in 
relation to the teachings of Jesus should stop the 
flow of his companion’s confidence. 

“ If you have been in Jerusalem lately, Clytus,” 
said Cyrus, “you doubtless have learned some- 
thing about Simon.” 

The small deep-set dark eyes of the soothsayer 
lighted up with a vengeful fire. “ Truly I know 
about him, the proud, ungrateful upstart! Hi§ 
160 


LIGHT IN THE PRISON 


161 


prosperity has made him insane with self-conceit. 
I can tell tales of Simon that will be worth hear- 
ing when I am able to follow him to Samaria.’ , 

“ Has he gone to Samaria then ? ” said Cyrus, 
betrayed into too direct a question by his anxiety. 

“ Young man, it seems to me you have a very 
great interest in Simon. Did he cheat you also, 
or are you interested in his prophetess ? ” 

Cyrus ignored the insinuation and appealed to 
his greed. “ Can we make a bargain which will 
hold good when we get out of this beastly hole, 
Clytus ? ” 

Cyrus was in a quandary. He did not want to 
frighten Clytus, nor did he want to saddle him 
upon Antigone. He would rather have the in- 
formation straight. But the soothsayer was natur- 
ally, as well as professionally, shrewd. It was a 
game of wits — Mede against Greek. There were 
suspicion and greed and hunger on the part of the 
stranded fortune-teller, but Cyrus was dispos- 
sessed of his accustomed weapons. This man, 
however detestable, was in his eyes, as a follower 
of Jesus, a man and a brother. He met Clytus’ 
craft with frankness. 

“ Clytus, if you have never done a good deed 
for mercy’s sake, do one now. Tell me, for the 
sake of the girl’s mother, was Iole, the oracle of 
Simon, kindly treated by him? Tell us, if you 
know, where they have gone, that we may find 
her.” 


11 


162 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


The evident sincerity and candor of Cyrus 
disarmed Ctytus. “ I bear the girl no grudge. 
Indeed, I would serve her a good turn, for she was 
ever kind and bright among the followers of 
Simon. I think she spoke in my behalf to Simon 
when I left his company, but the headstrong 
libeler would hear no reason. Aye, she deserves 
a kind turn if I can do it for her own sake ; but I 
have no mercy for Simon,” and thus musing to 
himself he turned to Cyrus and told what he 
knew. “ He has gone to Samaria with great plans, 
and his residence can easily be found. Oh, yes, I 
know Simon; we must all play slave to him as em- 
peror. He has some craze about God coming 
down to the earth, and of course Simon is going 
to be the god. He got it here in Jerusalem, where 
every wild fanatic flourishes. The gods give us a 
good riddance of the whole crazy crowd.” 

“ Clytus, I thank you for your good news con- 
cerning Iole. Her mother Antigone and I, with 
others of our company, are anxious to find her, 
and we will tell our friends here of your imprison- 
ment, and some of them will show you kindness 
when you are released. In the meantime Lady 
Antigone will see that your wants are attended to.” 

“Well, Cyrus,” said the man, and, hardened 
though he was with contact with the very mean- 
est side of life, he felt the unwonted kindness, “ I 
thought this was done for the girl’s sake, or the 
mother’s sake, and not to be paid for.” 


LIGHT IN THE PBISON 


163 


“ Let us not call it pay, Clytus, but an act of 
brotherhood.” 

Clytus opened his eyes. “ What mean you, 
Cyrus ? brotherhood of the magic circle ? I have 
heard nothing and seen less of that dream for 
many a day. The only brotherhood I have ever 
known in our art is a brotherhood of evil, of hate, 
and of envy. Between you and me, Cyrus, we 
know that these old superstitions are given over 
by all wise men to the vulgar crowd. And we 
who are supposed to be the superior possessors of 
knowledge are heart-hungry for some gleam of 
light and love.” 

Cyrus was not surprised at this revelation, for 
he knew the facts too well in his own experience, 
but he was surprised at the outburst from a man 
like Clytus. 

“ Our brotherhood, Clytus, is no dark secret 
locked in the hearts of the initiated, but the Good 
News proclaimed on the housetops for all men. It 
is the fellowship of the disciples of Jesus. We 
are brothers because he is our brother as well as 
our Lord. This wild blasphemy of Simon’s which 
you hinted at is a corruption of the blessed truth 
in the life of Jesus. All our manifestations and 
materializations of spirits were base frauds upon 
the ignorant and superstitious peoples ; but Jesus 
of Nazareth is God manifested in the flesh. You 
might learn, Clytus, from this one thing alone, 
that he is God incarnate, just by his natural, 


164 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


simple, loving way of life. He had no tricks like 
Simon, no deception, and he loved the little chil- 
dren just like an elder brother. All the brethren 
speak of him as their Friend, for, though he is 
Lord of all, he is still one of our own company, 
whether in the house of mourning or the wedding 
feast.” 

Cyrus, without knowing it, had begun with 
Clytus to give that testimony concerning Jesus to 
his own people which the teaching of Stephen had 
first inspired him to bear. His heart glowed as 
he spoke of his Friend, and the outcast soothsayer 
was affected by the note of a new human fellow- 
ship in his companion’s speech. 

“ Cyrus,” he said in a low, confidential tone, 
“your words are strange and almost incredible. 
Yet we of the magic circle have so often longed 
for light that surely it is not unreasonable for a 
revelation to come to us. The gods know we 
were ignorant enough to need it. It may be this 
Jesus is the Light of the World.” 

“ Ay, Clytus,” responded Cyrus, eagerly, “ and 
more than light, for much as we needed that, we 
needed this brotherhood of good-will more. How 
often have we seen those men and women who 
come to us for help to find their lost ones torn 
with anguish for the loss of all that human hearts 
held dear ! The hate and cruelty and greed of 
men breaking hearts and blasting hopes were 
worse even than the mental darkness. But Jesus 


LIGHT IN THE PRISON 


165 


tells us God is love ; and behold his disciples, how 
they love one another ! I am a Median, you are 
a Greek ; Jesus’ disciples are of every nation, but 
they are all brothers. And even the Jews, for 
Jesus himself and Peter and the rest of the apos- 
tles are Jews, hail us brothers. I am the last of a 
long line of Medo- Persian Magi, but I count it 
my glory to have seen the light of the promised 
revealer of God and the Desire of Nations in 
Jesus of Nazareth, and I have learned to love and 
worship him.” 

The squalid surroundings of the prison were 
forgotten and the soul of Cyrus, filled with a di- 
vine fire of enthusiasm and love, revealed a man 
of spirit and power now fully fitted to cope with 
the towering ambition and dark genius of Simon. 

When Antigone learned of the whereabouts of 
Iole a great burden fell from her heart. “ Surely, 
Cyrus, your words are already come true, and we 
were sent here to this prison in the mercy of God. 
But do you think this man’s word can be relied 
on, and that we may expect to find my child with 
Simon unharmed ? ” 

“ There is no doubt but that he speaks the truth 
concerning Simon’s plans when he left here, and 
there is every likelihood that Samaria is his desti- 
nation ; for he came from the place originally, and 
will have many reasons for going back with his 
new honors to astonish its superstitious people.” 

“How long yet, think you, shall we be kept 


166 


CYRUS TBE MAGICIAN 


here, Cyrus? I am impatient to set out and find 
my child ! ” 

“ I have noticed, these few days past,” said Cy- 
rus, “that no new prisoners are sent in, and this 
leads me to think the fierceness of the attack is 
over. The brethren are scattered, as you know, 
and are bending before the storm. There was a 
very important rumor among the servants of the 
priests who visited the prison yesterday, and if it 
prove true we may find release soon.” 

“ What was that, Cyrus ? ” 

“It was reported that Saul, our bitterest enemy, 
had been sent with letters from the high priest to 
Damascus to bring bound to Jerusalem any of our 
“Way” from there. This would show that the 
persecution had spent its force here, and with our 
chief persecutor gone we may find it more easy to 
secure release.” 

This report proved correct and within a few 
days they were dismissed with a warning not to 
speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Cyrus had 
learned during his imprisonment of the secret hid- 
ing-place of Peter and the rest of the apostles, 
and after he had seen Antigone and Rhoda safely 
lodged he set out at night to learn the exact situ- 
ation concerning the disciples. For Antigone, al- 
though burning with eagerness to set out to Sa- 
maria, was as anxious as Cyrus to know just how 
matters had fared with the honored servants of 
Jesus. 


LIGHT IN THE PRISON 


167 


Cyrus was greeted with a glad surprise when 
he arrived at Peter’s lodging. He learned that 
Philip, Timon and others had all gone to Sa- 
maria, and that strange stories had come of the 
doings of Simon among the cities of that province. 
Cyrus now learned the true nature of Simon’s 
claims and his great success among the people of 
Samaria. He saw in a moment that his coming 
meeting with Simon would prove a critical event 
in both their lives. But he dreaded the danger 
to Iole in the meantime, lest Simon’s anger should 
lead him to harm her when opposed by Philip and 
he found his influence among the people lost. 

Cyrus returned with all haste and told Antig- 
one the stirring news. It was good for her that 
she did not know the nature of Simon as Cyrus 
did, or it might have prostrated her altogether. 

A few others from the company of the apostles 
accompanied them on their journey to Samaria, 
which they began the next day. The fresh morn- 
ing air, the sense of liberty and the purpose of 
the journey all contributed to raise their spirits 
and give them a hopefulness and joy little to be 
expected in a company of exiles. 

“‘When ye are persecuted in one city, flee ye 
into another,’ were the words of our blessed Mas- 
ter himself,” said Mnason, one of the disciples. 

“ I cannot help thinking that we have a great 
deal left us yet,” said Antigone, “for the sweet 
pure air and God’s blessed sunshine are above 


168 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


and around us ; and is not this gracious fellow- 
ship also more to me than ever I had before ? ” 
She looked into Rhoda’s eyes and the girl felt 
that she meant every word. 

“ They cannot rob us of our treasures, for our 
treasures are in heaven ; and they cannot exile us 
from our fatherland, for our home is with God,” 
said Mnason. 

“ I can hardly think of this as hardship,” broke 
in Cyrus, “ for in my old life I went about from 
city to city, but for a poor purpose as compared 
to our mission to-day. I feel like a man who has 
got new life ; I am like a soldier in the ranks of 
a conquering general. Then I was seeking to de- 
lude people ; to-day I am anxious to tell them the 
Good News.” 

Rhoda listened to the words of Cyrus with the 
light of a gathering enthusiasm in her face. “ I 
have often thought of our new life in this way, 
Cyrus, and it helps me to hear another express it 
so. Jesus has done so much more for me than 
anything I have ever done for him that I am 
ashamed to speak of suffering for him. He has 
given me this new mother friend,” she said, look- 
ing lovingly up in Antigone’s face, “and he has 
given me other friends, too, so that in my case it 
has been new wealth and love, not sacrifice, to 
which I have been called.” 

“ Yes, that is it,” eagerly replied Cyrus ; “ Jesus 
gives us a full life, and a new power of soul to live 


LIGHT IN THE PltlSON 


169 


it. I feel within me a desire to live as never be- 
fore. I feel life is worth living to help those who 
were once like me, as ignorant and selfish.” 

Antigone was not sorry to see the drawing to- 
gether of the two young people in the common 
faith, but she was afraid it might bring about un- 
desirable complications in the present journey. 
She withdrew with Rhoda on some pretense and 
left Cyrus to his own thoughts. He was dream- 
ing dreams of his own future, for, mixed with the 
hope that had come into his own heart, was the 
old ambition to be somebody among his own peo- 
ple. The vision of the great temple at Ephesus, 
the gorgeous processions and ceremonies, the dark 
mysteries of Diana’s worship and the power of the 
priests, all floated over his brain like clouds over 
a moonlit sky, now bursting in stormy passion, 
now showing the soft light clear in the blue 
heavens. “ I cannot but feel,” he mused to him- 
self, 44 that the day will come when the sweet 
sanity of the gospel will take the place of all these 
dark mummeries of the mystic shrine of Diana. 
It must surely be that the dear reasonableness of 
Jesus’ light and love will take possession of all 
humble worshipers of God. For has he not said 
4 1 am the Truth,’ and 4 There shall be one fold and 
one shepherd ’ ? ” Beneath the silent Syrian stars 
he got the new strength of a personal consecration 
to service, which in the days coming he needed so 
much. He had surrendered the secret power of 


170 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


the Great Arcanum — the power of a domineering 
will, the force of a masterful personality — for this 
is the supreme secret of all magicians, past and 
present. Cyrus had accepted life at another 
source, from One who emptied himself, beggared 
and humiliated himself, but who had risen thereby 
to the highest glory. Cyrus knew it not fully 
then ; he was only conscious of a new interest, a 
new source of courage, a new hope and purpose 
in life. But he was rapidly learning the secret of 
the divine life, which rested not in self-assertion and 
domination, but in self-surrender and love. If he 
had only known it, the acceptance of this new 
principle of life would have shown him Satan fall- 
ing from heaven, for this in every man’s life is the 
hour of the power of light and love. 


CHAPTER XII 


A FALSE MOVE 

The doings of Simon and Philip had become so 
well known ere the arrival of Antigone and her 
friends, that all Samaria was filled with the noise 
of them. Cyrus was greatly surprised to find 
that there had been no outward conflict yet be- 
tween the two men, but matters were in a strained 
condition. Simon appeared to be acting with 
great caution and Cyrus was all the more con- 
cerned on that account. Philip’s preaching and 
miracles had completely turned the tables against 
Simon. The very grounds of his pretensions were 
precisely the points on which Philip was strongest. 
Philip had healed the sick as they were brought 
to him, he had spoken with a simplicity and 
earnestness which carried conviction to the minds 
of the people, and, above all, the story of the life 
of Jesus which he told fell upon their hearts like 
rain upon parched ground. For a time Simon had 
worked in secret against him, and all the resources 
of his black magic had been used to hold his fol- 
lowers, but when he saw them one by one go over 
to the side of Philip, he reluctantly acknowledged 
that here was a secret he had not mastered. 

“It is no dishonor, Philodamus,” he said one 
171 


172 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


day to his assistant, who had taken the place of 
Cyrus, “ for a master to learn of another master 
the secrets of his craft. I can see that this Philip 
knows mysteries that are yet hid from me, and I 
hate him for his cursed generosity, but his star is 
rising and I am willing to learn of him.” 

“ Simon,” replied the flatterer, seeing which 
way the wind was blowing, “ to me this is another 
mark of your greatness. Only he who is willing 
to learn is worthy to rule. You will learn to-day 
what will make you master to-morrow.” 

“ Put these appliances aside for a little, Philo- 
damus, and we will get ready for meeting this 
Philip. It may be his secret is not so widely dif- 
ferent from our magical Arcanum after all. 
Magic is a language that can be learned only by 
continually mastering the new words of power.” 

This he said with a confident air to cover his 
own retreat as well as possible in the eyes of his 
assistant. “ I am glad to-day,” he mused to him- 
self, “ that Cyrus is not here. I should have liked 
ill to have his keen Median eyes looking at me 
while I pretended submission to Philip. It is well, 
too, that Iole is gone. The girl knows more than 
she herself suspects, and it will be strange if, 
when I draw Philip’s secret from him, I cannot 
mend matters at imperial Rome with the far-see- 
ing genius of Iole.” 

Among the crowd that surrounded Philip one 
day at the conclusion of his preaching were some 


A FALSE MOVE 


173 


of the followers of Simon, who told Philip that the 
magician desired conference with him concerning 
the miracles which he did. 

“Simon will do well to consider the truth 
rather than the miracles,” responded Philip. 
“ Nevertheless, if he is seeking knowledge let us 
go to him.” 

Simon met Philip and welcomed him to his 
house and led him, little as Philip knew it, into 
the Hall of Magic. In the presence of this evan- 
gelist of the gospel of Jesus, even Simon felt the 
incongruity of the poor appliances which he knew 
were hid behind the draperies of the room. There 
was no altar nor astral light, no pentegram, nor 
magic circle. Simon’s rod was hid and he af- 
fected no strange speech or formulae of occult 
power. 

Simon hardly recognized himself. The atmos- 
phere seemed charged with a purity and sanity 
which affected Simon strangely, as if he had 
sloughed off the part of his perverse manhood, 
and got back to the simplicity and purity of child- 
hood. Philip’s transparent sincerity and direct- 
ness of purpose also affected him, and for the 
moment he wished he were a good man. 

“I have asked you to come under my roof, 
Philip,” said Simon, addressing his guest, “ that I 
might know more of this 4 Way ’ ; for surely no 
man can do the miracles that thou doest except 
God be with him.” 


174 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“ The miracles, Simon, are not considered by 
us who are but instruments in the hands of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. It is in his name alone that 
they are done. The man who would first know 
of the Way of Jesus must believe in his name 
with all his heart.” 

“ May I then, who have been known in Samaria 
as the Manifestation of the Supreme God, also 
believe in him ? ” 

“ Yes, Simon ; for our Lord rejects no one who 
turns to him with a humble heart. If you did it 
ignorantly in unbelief, it is surely forgiven unto 
you.” 

“Truly I can say I believe in the power of 
Jesus if you, as his servant, can work those mir- 
acles which we now see.” 

Then said Philip, “ Who can forbid water that 
this man should be baptized ? ” 

While the rite of baptism was being adminis- 
tered, Simon’s mind was a seething cauldron of 
conflicting emotions. His words of confession, 
leading him on from one point to another, 
strengthened his desires for a better life, but he 
knew he was keeping something back. He rec- 
ognized a secret place in his heart, just as he 
knew there were dark secrets of magic hid in 
that room. But he had enough of sincerity to 
wish to know more. He had little or no sense of 
sin, and felt no tenderness of love toward Jesus, 
but the secret source of that miraculous power 


A FALSE MOVE 


175 


was the fatal fascination of his life. Was this 
baptism a new initiation into the mysteries of the 
“Jesus Way,” or was it some mark of the new god ? 
He knew not clearly, but it was something to be 
borne on the way to his purposes, and so he ac- 
cepted it. 

“Simon,” said Philip at its conclusion, “you 
desire to see wonders. Come with us where the 
people crowd together in poverty and sickness, 
and see the mercy of Jesus. You have amazed 
this Samaria ; yourself shall be amazed in turn. 
But your wonder shall not be at wonders merely, 
but at the peace and love which come to the 
hearts of men through the hearing of this gospel.” 

The winning of Simon seemed to melt Philip 
into more than usual tenderness. He saw as it 
were in Simon’s conversion all opposition taken 
away and a free course for the gospel. He saw 
Satan fall from heaven, and the name of the Lord 
Jesus magnified. 

Simon caught the contagion of this enthusiasm 
and in those first days while accompanying Philip 
he was amazed, beholding the signs and miracles 
which he wrought. 

During those days he had completely forgotten 
Iole, and the impending changes which must now 
soon come in their relations. He remembered her 
at length with a shock. He felt he could no 
longer drift, he must act. To bring her back 
here was to surrender her to Philip and the dis- 


176 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


ciples, for she would certainly consider his change 
of mind a signal for her freedom. The far-reach- 
ing consequences of his own step suddenly flashed 
on his mind. 

“Am I, then, to be a follower of Philip all my 
life? It is true, these works are great, but I 
seem to be no nearer the mystery of this secret of 
power than before.” 

The baptism of Simon occurred about the time 
of the arrival of Cyrus. He, learning of the new 
doings of Simon, kept himself and his company 
in the background, to see what would come of it. 
If Cyrus was surprised before, he was truly 
amazed now. Simon a follower of Jesus! He 
was greatly agitated. He was delighted at the 
conquest, at the certainty of Iole’s deliverance 
now ; and yet he was troubled, for he knew the 
dark, ambitious soul of Simon, and he did not 
like the suddenness of the change. No time was 
to be lost, however, and he and Antigone went to 
see Simon. 

Cyrus was a good deal embarrassed to know 
just how to proceed in his interview. He did not 
wish to take too much for granted and conclude 
that it was all plain sailing, nor did he want to 
appear to doubt Simon’s sincerity. 

Simon was greatly surprised to see Cyrus and 
Antigone, and did not attempt to conceal the 
fact. 

“We have come to consult you concerning 


A FALSE MO VE 


177 


Iole,” said Cyrus, when greetings had passed be- 
tween them, “ as this lady who accompanies me 
has good reason to believe she is related to her.” 

Simon retreated within himself the moment 
Iole’s name was mentioned, and from that mo- 
ment he was on his guard. “I am still Iole’s 
guardian, whatever my new profession ; and in- 
deed I am bound to be all the more careful of her 
welfare. May I ask, madam, what relationship 
you claim to bear to Iole ? ” 

“ I have every reason to believe she is my 
daughter Irene, who was lost from her home in 
Smyrna.” 

“It is indeed true that the magician Tresme- 
gistus who placed her in my care was in the 
neighborhood of Smyrna, and she often spoke of 
the terraced city and the beautiful river ; but 
something more conclusive than this is needed.” 

“ She wore around her neck a golden Homerian 
placed there by her father ; and she has behind 
her left ear a little brown birthmark shaped like a 
pearl.” 

Antigone looked into Simon’s face so wistfully, 
with such an eager mother hunger, that his eyes 
dropped before hers, and even if he had wished to 
deny the signs he could not. 

“It is my own beloved daughter, Simon; you 
need not answer me.” And before he could pre- 
vent it she had fallen at his feet and embraced 
them. “ Tell me where she is. Is she in the city? 

12 


178 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


Oh, bring me to her and you shall have a mother’s 
blessing.” 

Simon was about to reply when she again broke 
in upon his words. “But I have forgotten to 
thank you for your care of her all these years ; 
for, under God, have you not preserved my 
child?” 

Cyrus turned his face from the scene. There 
were memories that thrust themselves between 
Cyrus and Simon just now, and he had no doubt 
Simon shared them largely. Simon could not 
stoop to explain, and he was not likely to confess 
to his old evil ways, so Cyrus knew it must be 
doubly hard for him to have these coals of fire 
heaped upon his head. 

“ Iole, madam, is now in Damascus,” said Simon. 
“She was sent there recently under the care of 
my servants, and, if you are indeed her mother, 
you shall get every help from me to find her.” 

“A thousand thanks, Simon. Oh, Cyrus, God 
has indeed been good to us, and where we ex- 
pected enemies we have found friends.” 

She saw from Cyrus’ glance that she had said 
rather more than was wise ; but turning to Simon 
she apologized. “ Forgive me, Simon, if I seem 
to reflect on you, but you must know how many 
fears enter a mother’s heart. Every step was dark 
and every one seemed to separate me from my 
child.” 

“I blame you not, madam, and to show that I 


A FALSE MOVE 


179 


am truly anxious in every way to help you and 
Cyrus, here, I shall send one of my servants with 
you to Damascus, who shall have full instructions 
for the person who now has her in charge. But 
Cyrus,” he said, turning to the Median, “ I hope 
the past may be allowed to sleep. You will find 
your money and other possessions in the chest 
where you deposited them. I parted with you in 
haste and with angry words ; you are a man of 
the world and you know what provocation I re- 
ceived.” 

“I am truly willing to forget the past, Simon, 
and forgive it. all and I hope you can say the same 
to me. I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus, also,” 
continued Cyrus, “and this meeting gives me 
double joy in learning of the welfare of Iole and 
seeing my old master among the disciples of the 
4 Jesus Way.’ ” 

Simon saw that the situation had to be accepted 
even with the loss of Iole and with the profession of 
discipleship. He hoped, however, that the future 
would place him in his true position, and that all 
might be retrieved on a larger stage of action. 

Simon assured them of the welfare of Iole and 
her safety in Damascus and so Antigone set out 
for the ancient Syrian metropolis with a happy 
heart, feeling the embraces of her child, by antici- 
pation, on the way. Cyrus was more puzzled than 
ever. He could not deny Simon’s generosity, for 
he had not only restored bis own money, but he 


180 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


had added a valuable purse for Iole as well as 
some articles of value which Cyrus greatly prized 
as belonging to his father. Yet he failed to no- 
tice about Simon that abandon of joy, that hon- 
esty, directness, and simplicity of speech and pur- 
pose, which he had always seen about the other 
disciples. “ It may be,” thought Cyrus, “ that 
this man with his dark secrets cannot so easily get 
rid of the evil past as others can. Sins of the 
flesh are soon washed out, but sins of the spirit 
seem to be dyed into the warp and woof of the 
soul. I cannot fully understand this myster}^. 
God, give me more light and lead Simon to the 
simplicity of Jesus.” Such was the fervent prayer 
of Cyrus as he rode by the side of Antigone and 
Rhoda to Damascus. 


CHAPTER XIII 


SIMON’S HUMILIATION 

The news of the wonderful doings of Philip in 
Samaria now reached the ears of the apostles at 
Jerusalem. They saw that the persecution and 
scattering of the disciples were part of God’s 
larger plan for the spreading of the gospel. It 
was an eventful day for them, trained as they had 
been among the strictest tenets of the Jews, when 
they learned that Samaria had received the word 
of God. They decided to send among the new 
converts Peter and John, that they might instruct 
them more fully in the things concerning the Lord 
Jesus. The coming of those two honored and be- 
loved brethren to Samaria was the cause of great 
joy and pleasure to the Samaritan disciples. They 
were glad to find themselves held in such honor 
by the brethren in Jerusalem, and to many it ap- 
peared as if the old feud between the Jews and 
Samaritans would surely be healed by the new 
gospel of Jesus. 

There was great expectation in many hearts 
when the brethren were gathered together in 
Samaria to receive the apostles. Of all that com- 
pany not one looked forward to the coming of 
Peter and John with more interest than Simon. 


181 


182 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


He had a presentiment that their action would 
bring about the supreme crisis in his affairs. If 
there was any special authority resident anywhere, 
surely, he thought, it was to be found with the 
apostles. 

There was a deep hush in that assembly when, 
at the close of the love -feast, the apostles rose and 
prayed for the new converts who had received the 
word of God in Samaria. At the conclusion 
Peter lifted his hands as if in benediction, and 
said: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Then the 
apostles laid their hands upon the believers, in 
token of the fellowship and brotherhood of the 
Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole company re- 
ceived the Holy Ghost. Simon, whose eyes had 
been fixed upon Peter and John from the moment 
they arose to pray after the feast, was deeply 
moved. He saw that this was a rite Philip had 
never performed, and that in it seemed to rest the 
authority of the apostles. While the solemn 
silence of the moment still rested on the assembly 
and every heart was filled with an ecstasy of love, 
he approached the apostles and said : 

“ Sirs, give me also this power, that on whomso- 
ever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. 
I have money which is greatly needed for the poor 
of the flock, and for the work to which you have 
been set apart. See, here is much gold for all 
needs of the poor of Jerusalem also, and your 
own needs. Take it and give me this power for 


SIMON'S HUMILIATION 


183 


which I have so earnestly longed ever since I 
heard the word from Philip.” 

The appearance of the man, so striking in many 
ways, and the request, so extraordinary, at first 
staggered the apostles. It seemed to their simple, 
sincere faith and love toward Jesus incredible, but 
the full extent of the enormity soon flashed upon 
them. Peter looked upon Simon with an eye of 
fire, his soul burning with righteous wrath. 
Peter was a Jew ; so was Simon. Peter had 
walked with Jesus and known the simplicity and 
holiness of his life ; he had known also how 
foreign to every thought of that life was the love 
of power or the love of money ; and he had come 
through the baptismal fires of Pentecost, when the 
new spirit of the “ Jesus Way ” had taken posses- 
sion of the souls of men. It was to him strange to 
hear this man, educated in the sordid mysteries of 
the magic of the East, ask to buy for money the 
power that flows from the divine self-surrender 
and deathless love of Jesus. They stood facing 
each other— champions of light and darkness — 
as at the moment preceding the storm, before the 
thunder-cloud emits the bolt of doom. 

At length Peter spoke, his fiery indignation 
touched with contempt. “ Thy silver perish with 
thee, son of darkness, because thou hast thought 
to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast 
neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is 
not right before God. Repent therefore of this thy 


184 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the 
thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For 
I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in 
the bond of iniquity.” 

For the first time in his life Simon found his 
match. The personality of Peter dominated him. 
Simon felt that this curse was no vain denuncia- 
tion ’on Peter’s part but the doom of a divine 
power greater than himself. He was for the 
moment paralyzed and stammered forth a prayer 
for mercy. 

“ Pray ye for me to the Lord,” he said, “ that 
none of the things which ye have spoken come 
upon me.” 

Simon hardly knew how he got to his lodgings. 
After the first shock was over, and when away 
from the dominant personality of Peter, he began 
to recover himself. As time went past, and none 
of the physical evils came upon him which he 
feared might come, he looked around to see what 
he could save out of the wreck. His heart was 
bitter as he began to realize what he had lost. 
The dread of physical disaster gone, he began to 
feel the pangs of defeated ambition. He raged in 
impotent self-accusing despair. He was in the hell 
of the conceited and ambitious man. He blamed 
himself alone. This was the bitterest pang of the 
situation. “I wanted more light,” he thought, 
“ and I have got it ; there was a secret in that 
Way and I have not found it. Cyrus has gone 


SIMON’S HUMILIATION 


185 


and taken his money, too ; Iole is lost, my reputa- 
tion in Samaria is shattered, and, worst of all, I 
suffer the public shame of this condemnation and 
rebuke. 0,\ Simon, Simon, exalted to heaven, 
thou hast been cast down to hell.” 

But this fit soon passed away. He was a man 
of great resources and prompt action. “ What I 
can retrieve, that I will try. Evil, be thou my 
good. Henceforth the powers of darkness shall 
be more to me, and we shall discover if this new- 
fangled gospel of pity and love is the only power 
in the world. I have seen little of men indeed if 
it is. I have yet great worlds to conquer. Rome 
is something, and the emperor reigns there. He 
and his great ones are more likely to buy my 
knowledge and court my power to do evil than to 
listen to Peter’s story of a crucified Jew.” 

It was thus that Simon began that career which 
filled the early years of the century with the dark 
deeds that have made his name and fame the evil 
romance of the age — the black shadow which fol- 
lowed the light of the cross. At once he prepared 
his Hall of Magic for an evocation of revenge on 
Cyrus, and cursed him by all the formulae of black 
magic. But not content with this, he organized a 
party to proceed at once to Damascus, and in the 
event of Iole being in her mother’s possession to 
lay violent hands upon Cyrus and secure Iole at all 
hazards. He would himself come shortly, as soon 
as it was possible for him to get away without ex- 


186 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


citing suspicion among the disciples, as they might 
in such a case convey the news to Antigone. 

All ignorant of the strange outcome of Simon’s 
profession, the company of Antigone arrived at 
Damascus and found Iole. It was arranged that 
Cyrus should first see her and prepare the way 
for the meeting with her mother. 

Iole could scarcely believe her own eyes when 
she saw Cyrus. She had left Samaria, resigned, 
it is true, but almost hopeless, and now to see her 
friend and brother in the Lord was joy too great 
for words. Iole fell upon his neck with tears of 
gratitude. 

He saluted her with the kiss of brotherhood, 
sacred among the disciples of Jesus, but his heart 
was so full that the warmth of the embrace ex- 
pressed much more than a brotherly interest. 
Both felt it was the beginning of a new life. 
They had never known such a meeting before. It 
came as a revelation to both. Cyrus hailed it 
with rapture, Iole welcomed it with a trembling 
joy. Conscious of the new feeling, she freed her- 
self from the more than brotherly embrace and, 
holding him at arm’s length, she tried to cover the 
action with the old gay words of comradeship, 
but Cyrus saw a new light in her eye and felt a 
new tenderness in her voice. 

“We have come from Simon, Iole,” said Cyrus 
at last, “ and there is good news for you.” 

“ It is indeed good to have you with us again, 





>» 


“ IOLE FELL UPON HIS NECK 











SBION’S HUMILIATION 


187 


Cyrus, for we women missed you much. We had 
no one to blame when things went wrong, and no 
one to ask for advice, which we felt at liberty to 
reject. I will tell you, even though it gives you an 
unfair advantage over us, that I never knew how 
much we relied upon you till we lost you.” 

Cyrus at another time would have taken full 
advantage of this admission, but at the moment 
was prevented from so doing by the thought of 
Antigone. 

“ You will not forget your old friends, Iole, 
when you find new ones. Pledge me that, and I 
will tell you all my good news.” 

The remark aroused Iole’s suspicions of some- 
thing very unusual. She did not answer his ques- 
tion but caught his hands again, saying, “ Cyrus, 
dear Cyrus, tell me all! You have heard of my 
mother. Perhaps, nay, I know she is here ! ” and 
the girl swooned in his arms. 

When she revived she found herself in the arms 
of Lady Antigone and the dear face of the longed- 
for mother was bending down to kiss her lips. 
No speech passed between them ; each knew in- 
stinctively what the other felt. It was heaven ! 
They spoke nothing of the past then, they seldom 
referred to it at other times; that moment when 
the eyes of the daughter looked into the eyes of 
the mother and each found the other seemed to 
blot out all the bitter past, for they lived an eter- 
nity in that second of time. 


188 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


After a little, Cyrus came in bringing Rhoda, 
and Antigone presented her to Iole as a sister be- 
loved. She told her the story of their meeting, 
and how she had come into her life at the time of 
the persecution, and Iole welcomed her to her 
heart with the very words of Antigone, 44 1 have 
found then, to-day, not only a mother but a sister. 
Cyrus,” said Iole, 44 what does this day bring to 
you? It is fitting that you, who have done so 
much to bring about this happy meeting, should 
share in its rewards.” 

44 1 have already had my reward in your wel- 
come, Iole, and now again in your joy at finding 
a mother and a sister. It is much for such a wan- 
derer as I have been to see a family reunited by 
the double bond of our love for the Lord Jesus 
as well as your tie of kinship.” 

“It is indeed a double sacredness, Cyrus,” said 
Antigone, 44 and from this hour we shall hold our 
dearest human loves more sacred through the love 
of Jesus. But I have another surprise for you, 
Iole, though perhaps it should cause little sur- 
prise. You must have thought it likely, my child, 
that you had another name. Your real name, my 
dear, is Irene. It is a true word to us to-day, for 
your recovery is 4 Peace ’ to my heart and I hope 
to all hearts here.” 

Cyrus, although he had heard the name before, 
felt a little disappointed. It looked as if he were 
to lose all his claim upon her, founded in the past. 


SIMON'S HUMILIATION 


189 


It seemed to him a barrier which Lady Antigone 
was setting up between him and her daughter. 
Could he, a wandering Median, claim any consid- 
eration from the girl by right of his old fellowship 
for the oracle of the magician if she was now 
Irene, the daughter of Lady Antigone ? Iole saw 
the disappointment in his eye, and warmly praised 
him in her heart for this sign of interest. 

“ I am sure Lady Antigone will pardon me for 
continuing to think kindly of the old Iole,” said 
Cyrus. “ Our hearts cling fondly to old names. 
They are memory’s shrines, the caskets that hold 
our treasures, and if we lose the name we are in 
danger of losing the treasures.” 

“ Is it possible, mother,” said Iole, “ that I can 
be Irene to you, and Iole to Cyrus? For, indeed, 
Cyrus, I can assure you I am the same friend you 
knew in the past. Yet am I not a sister in Christ, 
to whom a new name should be given?” 

“It is so,” said Cyrus, a new light breaking 
upon him ; “ and Irene shall you be to us also from 
henceforth; for you shall be our sign of peaoe 
which the Gosple has brought to troubled hearts 
and warring passions.” 

Irene, for so we must call her now, was much 
moved by Cyrus’ tender references to her past, 
for, although she felt a delicacy in referring to it 
with her mother, she knew also that many of the 
deep experiences of her life were bound up with 
it, and she felt grateful to Cyrus for his clinging 


190 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


to it for her sake. It was another window through 
which she could see her own soul and an indica- 
tion as to how her heart felt toward Cyrus. 

The days following this reunion were all too 
short for the interchange of news between mother 
and daughter, and during this time Cyrus and 
Rhoda often talked over the future, for they con- 
siderately left Irene and her mother much to them- 
selves. It was settled that they should all return 
with Antigone to Smyrna, for Irene and her 
mother greatly needed rest ; while Cyrus from 
that center would be able to visit places well 
known to him where the gospel might be preached. 


CHAPTER XIV 
simon’s revenge 

Over this peaceful home and its reunited 
hearts a malign cloud was hovering. The emis- 
saries of Simon found Iole gone, and the sooth- 
sayers and the black slaves much perplexed about 
the, to them, incomprehensible turn of events. 
They knew of Simon’s feelings toward Cyrus, and 
yet he had allowed Iole to be taken away by him. 
They now learned about Simon’s new plans, and 
his darker threats of revenge if thwarted. But 
his word to them was law; he might make the ex- 
planation to himself. One evening they set out 
to find Cyrus and Iole and to carry away the lat- 
ter if possible. The soothsayer, knowing the new 
habits of Cyrus, requested to see him and begged 
him to come and visit a youth who was sick and 
ready to die. As the man had been so fair in his 
conduct to Antigone at the time of their finding 
Irene, and as Cyrus had at this time no knowl- 
edge of Simon’s soul tragedy, he at once agreed to 
go. The knowledge of the “ Jesus Way ” was just 
at this time brought to Damascus and this fact 
also confirmed Cyrus in the impression that some 
of the disciples had sent for him. 

191 


192 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


As they passed along the streets, Cyrus asked 
the man what news had been received of Simon, 
but received a rather doubtful answer. Suspicion 
of foul play was utterly absent from his mind, 
however, and he passed on, musing upon the happy 
change that had come into his life. Stopping at 
the gate of a house the soothsayer told Cyrus that 
the sick man was there. At this moment the 
black slaves first appeared, and as Cyrus saw them 
turning the corner a thought of something strange 
flashed through his mind for the first time. He 
had no time to reflect, for the blacks made a rush 
at him, intending to strike him down. Cyrus, 
who stood in the angle formed by the wall of the 
house and the inner gate, had his antagonists in 
front of him. He was an agile young fellow and 
defended himself with great dexterity. The odds 
were too great, however, and they felled him to 
the ground. Stunned and bleeding, he lay, ap- 
parently dead, when the sound of approaching 
footsteps scared the assassins from their victim. 

As the new party came where Cyrus lay, they 
threw the light of their lamps upon his uncon- 
scious form in the doorway. The man who held 
the lamp looked closely at his face, and said, “ He 
is alive, thank God, and his face seems familiar to 
me. * Let us carry him into the house of Judas; 
perchance some of the brethren can tell where he 
lives.” 

As soon as the party had borne their burden 


SIMON’S REVENGE 


193 


into the house and his wound was attended to, 
J udas said, “ Ananias, the youth is that Median 
who came to our meeting two days ago with 
Lady Antigone. He has fallen among thieves 
and been robbed.” 

But on further search it was found that his 
money and rings were untouched. There was a 
mystery about the whole affair, and the company 
resolved at once to seek the lodging of Antigone 
to inform her of the disaster. 

When Ananias and his companions arrived at 
the house of Antigone, they found a struggle going 
on in the courtyard created by the two black slaves 
and the soothsayer, for they had gone direct to 
Antigone’s house to find Irene if possible. At 
the approach of these new friends the villains 
fled. Irene was prostrated with grief and fear. 
The sight of the minions of Simon had frozen her 
heart. She forgot for the moment the reputed 
change of religion in Simon, and saw only the men 
with whom the dark horrors of her past life were 
associated. The shock to her mind in her already 
enfeebled health was very great. 

Antigone got her to bed at once with Rhoda’s 
help, and came back to learn the cause of the 
timely arrival of Ananias and his friends. When 
they had told her of Cyrus’ dangerous wound, 
Antigone saw at once that there was some dark 
and dreadful plot beneath it all, quite be} r ond her 
powers to explain. Meanwhile, it was arranged 
13 


194 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


that the company should divide for the night, one 
part remaining with Antigone, and the other 
going with Rhoda back to the house of Judas to 
care for Cyrus. 

The experience was the first real trial of Antig- 
one’s faith since her union with the disciples. Her 
imprisonment at Jerusalem was nothing to this. 
She kept the condition of Cyrus from Irene as 
long as she could, but at last it seemed so strange 
that he did not come to visit her, and she so 
missed his presence from the house that some ex- 
planation had to be given. 

When Antigone told her that Simon’s slaves 
had waylaid and wounded him, Irene burst into 
tears, crying: “This has happened to him be- 
cause of his befriending us. I doubted all along 
the sudden change in Simon’s faith. He has been 
thwarted in his ambitious projects and now he 
turns his fury upon Cyrus.” 

Antigone tried to calm her and found the cure 
of her own grief in seeking to assure Irene of 
Cyrus’ safety. 

44 We have this comfort, dearest, that he still 
lives and is rapidly recovering ; and with Rhoda’s 
great care he will soon be able to come back to 
us. I think I can see God’s interposition on our 
behalf in sending Ananias and his company not 
only to rescue Cyrus, but to deliver us from the 
hands of that cruel man.” 

44 But does it not seem strange, mother dear,” 


SIMON'S REVENGE 


195 


questioned Irene, “that all this trouble should 
come so swiftly upon our recent happiness ? ” 

“Yes, it is so,” answered Antigone; “but no 
trouble can rob me of your love and no changes 
can alter the fact that we have known and loved 
each other for Jesus’ sake.” 

“But, mother, life seemed so bright and full of 
joy just lately since we met each other in this 
city ; I cannot bear to think this happiness may 
pass away as a dream.” 

“You are still shocked and ill, my dear,” said 
Antigone. “ Rest yet a little, and we will talk 
together some other day of those hard questions. 
It is not, Irene, because I do not long for your 
presence more than ever that I say that no trouble 
can rob me of your love ; but because I know 
what it is to lose all when I had no hope and no 
loving presence of the divine life with me. I 
know what a hopeless sorrow is; my life can 
never be without hope now.” 

Under the gracious ministry of Judas and his 
friends and Rhoda’s careful nursing, Cyrus rapidly 
recovered, so that he was soon well enough to re- 
turn to the house of Antigone. During those 
days of darkness and sickness Cyrus learned to 
know how strong and patient and unselfish a 
woman Rlioda was. Her talk was all of Antigone 
and Irene and the happy future before them in 
their home in Smyrna. The girl literally forgot 
herself and all unconsciously showed her noble 


196 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


character. Cyrus was learning what the heart of 
a loving woman could be in the most trying of all 
positions in life. 

To Rhoda the effort was perfectly natural, how- 
ever ; she was one of those women who find the 
food of their hearts in seeing others’ enjoyment. 
To her it seemed perfectly natural that Irene 
should be preferred. She had known Cyrus in 
the old days of hardship, and the new bonds had 
brought them closer than ever. Her gratitude to 
Antigone was a genuine flame of the spirit, and 
helped to keep her sweet and strong in the great 
trial of her affections. If she could nurse Cyrus 
back to health and Irene, it should be the proud- 
est service of her life. 

Cyrus could see the sisterly tenderness and felt 
besides a warmth of affection in her presence as 
if sunshine pervaded his very flesh and spirit. 

“ I seem to heal more quickly when you are in 
the room, Rhoda,” said Cyrus, one day. “ Is there 
any healing virtue that radiates from your pres- 
ence? So only can I account for what I feel.” 

“There may be, Cyrus; it would not be very 
strange if those who love one another should be 
able to help one another. May not our fervent 
prayers be in some sort a radiation from our souls 
affecting those we love ? I know your life is so 
precious to Irene and Antigone that I should 
gladly give mine to see you fully restored to 
them.” 


SIMON’S REVENGE 


197 


44 Rhoda, is it not very strange that we, who a 
few years ago were aliens in race and opposed in 
interests, Romans, Greeks and Medians, daughters 
seeking mothers and homeless magicians, are to- 
day a united family with ties closer than kin, and 
hopes stronger than death ? I think I can under- 
stand the words of the Lord Jesus now concern- 
ing kindred in the spirit: ‘Whosoever shall do 
the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, 
and mother.’ ” 

When Cyrus was strong enough to be taken 
home, Rhoda’s face glowed as if she herself were 
the object of his love. Antigone saw the look on 
the girl’s face as she entered the house, and won- 
dered. 

The meeting between Irene and Cyrus was 
peculiarly tender. Antigone felt there was an 
unusual sacredness about it, and that they too 
shared an experience on account of Simon’s vio- 
lence into which she could not enter. They had 
gone through so much together ; they had been 
lately so happy ; yet the time had been so short, 
and then that dark shadow had come into their 
life once more. Antigone saw now that they 
deeply and truly loved each other, and she trem- 
bled, for Irene’s condition had given her great 
concern. The shock to her whole system had 
been so great from the late violence and espe- 
cially from the dread of a return to Simon’s slav- 
ery that she recovered strength very slowly. It 


198 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


was hoped that the return of Cyrus would have a 
beneficial effect upon her. As they sat together, 
speaking in low, soft, confidential tones of the 
past, and drinking in joy from the mere pres- 
ence of each other, Antigone heard the mention 
of Smyrna. 

“It will be better for us all,” she remarked, “to 
return at once to our own home, and the air of 
her native place will soon restore our drooping 
flower. I think I can see our beautiful city rising 
from the sea in terraces to Mount Pagus and the 
lovely Meles, where Irene played when a child. 
Oh, it will make us all better when we get back 
home to Smyrna ! ” 

Irene smiled to hear her mother’s enthusiasm 
for her native city, for all those years of her wan- 
dering life so little love of place or home had 
come to her heart that it was almost a new sensa- 
tion to her. It was felt by all to be a safe move- 
ment, as the dread of Simon’s revenge haunted 
them yet. 


CHAPTER XV 


HOME AGAIN 

The voyage, the return to her native city, and 
the wealth of love lavished upon Irene by her 
mother and the others had a marked effect upon her 
health. She seemed to be rapidly recovering, - and 
Cyrus and she talked over his plans for future 
work. 

“ I can hardly believe,” said he, “ that I am the 
same Cyrus who came to Ephesus a year or two 
ago to make my fortune as a magician and to wor- 
ship at the shrine of Diana ! ” 

“ Can you think of me, Cyrus,” replied Irene, 
“as Iole, the oracle of the spirits of darkness? 
It is a new world to me — a home, a mother, 
friends, this place so full of contrast to the old 
horrors. Cyrus, is it possible that those evil 
powers we once served can ever again lay claim to 
us?” 

This was the one dark fear ever haunting Cyrus, 
that the sensitive spirit of Irene would be affected 
by the past. Only those who have gone through 
such a life can tell how fear has sunk into the 
very depths of the being so that no ordinary ray 
of sunshine can warm it out. 

“ But we are free in Christ Jesus, Irene ; how 

m 


200 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


can the spirits of darkness still claim those whom 
he has redeemed ? ” 

“ I know it is so ! My faith asserts it, my judg- 
ment approves it; but, Cyrus, strange thoughts 
come to me in the twilight. I can see the old 
Hall of Magic and the echo of the old voices 
come to me, and I think I hear them say ‘ She is 
ours; she knows our secrets and we claim her 
life/ ” 

“ This is simply because you have not fully re- 
covered from the fright and dread of Simon. Our 
bodies heal sooner than our minds, and it will take 
time before our very thoughts change. The 
daily companionship of Jesus will cure the dread 
of Simon.” 

“Yes,” said Irene, with enthusiasm, “without 
that thought I should long ago have de*spaired. 
How wonderful the change ! Of old I used to 
shut my eyes and go into hysteria to find my god ; 
now I open my eyes and heart to the sweet com- 
panionship of a divine Friend.” 

Antigone, who entered at this moment, saw the 
look of radiant contentment that lighted up the 
face of her daughter, and she caught the look in 
Cyrus’ eyes with a great deal of pleasure. It 
seemed to her that a decisive and favorable change 
had come, and that Irene was on the road to com- 
plete recovery. 

“ Rhoda wants to bring a little girl to see you 
to-day, my dear, if you think you can bear it. 


HOME AG Am 


201 


She has been finding objects for her sisterly min- 
istry already at our own doors, and she says you 
can soothe and help the afflicted almost as well as 
the deacons at Jerusalem could.” 

“ Yes, let her bring the child,” answered Irene, 
glad of some way of expressing her love and do- 
ing good while confined to her room. 

Cyrus followed Antigone to another part of the 
house and asked permission to speak with her 
about Irene. She saw from the rather formal re- 
quest that Cyrus had something very important 
to say. 

“ Dear madam,” said he, “ I feel the time has 
come when I must tell you how I love Irene. 
Our lives have been strangely bound up together, 
and since the evil influence of the spirits of dark- 
ness has been lifted from her life, we have been 
drawn together by a holier tie. At first I had no 
thought of love. My heart was consumed by a 
dark, eager ambition, and I regarded her and all 
our magical knowledge as a means of winning 
wealth and power. Since I have learned Jesus 
the world has changed. Irene is my sister, my 
friend, and we have the same hope and faith. If 
you deem me worth}' I would make her my wife.” 

Antigone kissed Cyrus on the brow. “You are 
my dear and honored son,” she said, “ to whom I 
owe my daughter and, under God, my own better 
life. It is all I desire in life to see you both 
happy.” 


202 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


“ There is one other thing, dear mother,” said 
Cyrus, “and now that you have given me the right 
to speak I may mention it. Irene is not yet entirely 
delivered from the dread of Simon. The light 
you saw in her face came from the thought of the 
nearness of Jesus, but it came at my suggestion 
rather than by her own experience. I am in great 
uncertainty as to whether we should allow Rhoda 
to bring her poor, sick and paralytic children to 
Irene. She loves to bless and comfort them, but 
power goes forth from her and she needs all her 
vital energies just now for her own recovery.” 

Cyrus had even some fears he dared not express 
to Antigone, partly because she would not quite 
understand them, and partly because he did not 
like to alarm her. Cyrus was not satisfied of late 
with the slow manner of Irene’s recovery. He 
dreaded the dark influence of Simon himself. He 
could not shake off the thought that Simon was 
following Irene with the curse of black magic. 
To Cyrus, in whose very blood the belief in evil 
spirits had been from infancy, it was possible to 
reject the heritage of superstition with the heart 
and mind, but the instincts of his nature reverted 
back to it. He was much troubled because Irene 
did not recover faster. He not only loved her, 
but wanted the right to protect her spirit from the 
crushing dread of the past, as only a husband 
could. 

He found her just after Rhoda and the sick 


HOME AGAIN 


203 


child had gone. She was looking happy, almost 
too bright and excited to please Cyrus. He went 
up to her and took her hands in his. 

“ Irene, dear, your noble mother has made me 
very happy. Will her daughter complete my 

joy ? ’’ 

As he spoke the girl trembled but looked into 
his face with a smile so sweet and full of sur- 
render that he gathered her in his arms. Neither 
spoke for many seconds. It was like the moment 
when Irene first regained her mother. Their 
hearts were too full. The past crowded upon 
them, mingling darkness and light, hope and fear, 
and as they looked into each other’s eyes the same 
thought flashed across their minds. 

“We are not alone,” said Irene, voicing this 
thought; “ the divine Friend is here to whom we 
give our life and love.” 

“ I am glad you have spoken it, Irene,” rejoined 
Cyrus. “ I have long thought nothing could so 
certainly break the dark spell of the past as our 
union of hearts in the love and service of Jesus. 
If my presence with you now forever can remind 
you continually of the elder Brother, will I not be 
more to you than lover and husband ? ” 

The sweet words brought a fine blush to Irene’s 
cheek and she hid her face on his shoulder. 

Antigone now came in with Rhoda, whose evi- 
dent delight in the news of Irene’s betrothal was 
a revelation to the whole family. No position can 


204 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


so try the spirit as that wherein Rhoda found her- 
self. She was warm-hearted, impetuous, entirely 
unlike Irene in the fine, sensitive, spiritual quali- 
ties of the mind, but formed for affection and hap- 
piness, with a perfect wealth of love for the fortu- 
nate heart that might find it. Yet she found her- 
self called upon to congratulate the girl preferred 
to herself. She did it warmly, fondly, and Irene 
then first realized how true and noble Rhoda could 
be. What Irene whispered in her ear no one can 
say, but as Rhoda looked up at Cyrus, her eyes 
filled with tears of joy. He thought her one of 
the sweetest, kindliest women he had ever seen. 

“ Irene says you are to come with me, Cyrus, to 
do some service for her sake to one of my people.” 

“ She commands me very soon,” said Cyrus. 

“The sooner you accept the yoke the happier 
you will make yourself,” said Rhoda, carrying off 
all the restraint of the situation between herself 
and Cyrus with a happy laugh. 

But when Rhoda and Cyrus were alone it re- 
quired all the girl’s courage and self-restraint to 
talk quietly of the things she had been doing in 
Smyrna. Cyrus himself had but just recovered 
and had not undertaken any new work, but now 
that the present uncertainties as to Irene’s health 
and situation were apparently at rest and his feel- 
ings toward her were known and approved he be- 
gan to feel the fascination of the large world of 
service for which the Christ had called him. 


HOME AGAIN 


205 


“ Rhoda,” he said, addressing the girl at his 
side, “ I am hoping to visit Ephesus again soon if 
Irene becomes strong. I wish that we might all 
go there and tell others of my old craft the good 
news that has come to us.” 

“ Would there not be danger from the priests 
and magicians to you and Irene if you should go 
among those whose interests are still bound up 
with the old superstition ? ” 

“ I cannot count the danger, Rhoda, for there 
must be some special reason why Irene and I have 
been called out of that terrible darkness into the 
sweet light of Jesus’ truth. I feel almost impa- 
tient of my own happiness in keeping me back 
from my manifest destiny.” 

“ Cyrus,” said the kindly but sensible girl, 
“ take care that the old ambition does not come 
back in a new form. You want still to win fame, 
if not by the old deceptions, perhaps by a better 
method, but still for the sake of fame. Oh, you 
men ! Love, even when newly betrothed, is put 
in a second place to work and fame. It may be 
Irene’s love and recovery are more to the heart of 
Jesus now, Cyrus, than your work.” 

Cyrus looked at Rhoda, who blushed by proxy 
for Irene. “ I never thought of that,” he said. 

“ No ; that is precisely what I blame you for : 
a woman like Irene at this hour needs soothing 
and healing love enfolding her all about to deaden 
the sounds and shocks of the world and nurse her 


206 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


back to a healthy, natural enjoyment of life. By 
and by, when she comes to love the flowers and 
trees and all simple, sweet things out under the 
blessed, open sky and to forget the craft and 
dreams and visions of the past, you will be able to 
go with her to Ephesus, and every one will see 
the difference between the disciple of Jesus, the 
friend of little children and flowers, and the fa- 
natical, crafty devotees of magic.” 

Rhoda’s fine common sense and great gift of 
unselfish loving had made her eloquent and far- 
seeing. Wherever she had gone in her journeys 
since she became a disciple of Jesus, her instinct 
led her, as by a sort of genius for doing good, 
right to the heart of all difficulties. She could go 
and find the needy and sick with unerring heart 
and hand. She was the first of .the company to 
tell the evangelists or deacons of the poor and 
those who were ready to hear the gospel, and 
Cyrus, like the others, came to lean heavily on her 
good judgment. Her words at this time fastened 
themselves in his memory; he yielded to her 
guidance. 


CHAPTER XVI 


THE LIVING PRESENCE 

Irene lived those few weeks as in a dream. 
The peace of her home, pervaded by the living 
presence of Christ, in such utter contrast to the 
war of passions which she had known in the house 
of Simon, wrapped her spirit like a garment. An- 
tigone brooded over her as if she were the little 
girl of seven who had just come home again, no 
older after her wandering. She was renewing her 
youth in her child and was more like a sister than 
a mother. But she could no longer shut her eyes 
to the mystery of Irene’s continued weakness. 
The girl’s eyes were too bright and eager, her 
cheeks were too transparent, and she sometimes 
surprised her mother with a look of rapture on 
her face as if she were still seeing visions and 
dreaming dreams. 

“ Irene,” said her mother, on one of those occa- 
sions, “you are not seeking messages from the un- 
seen world any more ? ” 

The question startled the girl. “ I have no need, 
if I had the wish, mother. My mind has found 
truth in Jesus, as my heart has found love. I at 
least am little likely to seek messages from the 
307 


208 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


unseen. I know too much of its illusions and de- 
ceit.” 

“I thought,” pursued Antigone, “ that perhaps 
you were anxious to get some assurance from the 
Master that you might get well again quickly, for 
you know our hearts are set upon your speedy re- 
covery.” 

“Yes, mother dear,” replied Irene, “for your 
sakes 1 wish it ; but I have no need to seek the 
spirits that peep and mutter as in the old times. 
My Lord is with me now, and there is for me no 
mystery and unseen. I am in his presence and he 
is in my heart. At first when the great rush of 
all his goodness came upon my life and I longed 
and prayed for health to enjoy it, I wanted a vis- 
ible presence and assurance. But lately it is not 
so. I have that presence. Jesus is here more 
really than you or Cyrus, and I speak with him 
and he with me. If I saw him with my naked eye 
I should think it a delusion of my senses, but I 
see him with the eyes of my spirit, and I know 
his presence is real.” 

“ Then you never feel the need of asking for a 
sign, Irene, just a word in your ear, or a vision to 
answer you of his presence and care ? ” 

“But, mother, I have the sign and assurance 
now in my spirit. No manifestation could make 
it more real. I think sometimes I might have 
wanted a sign if I had not gone through all the 
spiritual agonies of the old magic for signs and 


THE LIVING PRESENCE 


209 


wonders; but Jesus has come into my life as dif- 
ferently from that as light from darkness. In 
those days it was all secrecy, darkness, mum- 
blings of unintelligent, worthless messages, out 
of which I would come racked and wounded in 
soul. But when Jesus came into my life my heart 
opened to him as the flower to the sunshine. His 
words to my spirit were all simple and easily 
understood. I did not rave or agonize ; but I 
felt a sweet sanity, a gracious peace. During the 
troubles in Damascus and the disaster that came 
upon Cyrus, I lost the sense of Christ’s presence. 
I wanted some show of power to crush our enemy. 
I thought surely that Jesus had not brought us all 
this love merely to make us suffer more in giving 
it up again. This is past : and I would not have 
a shadow less for the power of Caesar. O mother, 
I never knew you, nor Cyrus, nor Rhoda, till I 
looked into your eyes when the fear of losing me 
spoke your deathless love.” 

Antigone listened with a fearful joy, mingled 
with anxiety, straining the girl to her heart, for 
half this confession was sobbed out on her mother’s 
bosom. She saw the moral victory of Irene’s soul, 
the young heart facing and overcoming the fear 
of death; but she saw also that her child was 
weaker. 

When Cyrus learned the true condition of 
Irene’s health, he was plunged into despair. An* 
tigone forbade him going to see her in his present 
14 


210 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


state of mind, and begged him to be calm for her 
own and Irene’s sake, as any violent excitement 
might bring on an immediate crisis. It was in 
this hour of self-repression that he found his Geth- 
semane. The first experiences of life in the new 
faith had brought him suffering. His greatest 
trials arose out of his sweetest ties and his holiest 
duties. He could not understand it. Christ had 
come to him as the strong, gracious Friend; he 
had seen his power, he had enjoyed his light, and 
now in the dark hour of his own heart’s cruci- 
fixion, the light and power of the Christ were de- 
nied to him. If he could not have Irene as the 
companion of his new life and new work for the 
kingdom, what significance was in their conver- 
sion ? 

Cyrus was making the mistake of all ambitious 
natures, thinking he was called into the kingdom 
because of his own importance, forgetting that the 
method of Christ is first to win the individual soul 
to himself, then after that to order the disciple’s 
life according to his own purpose. It was some 
time before it dawned upon Cyrus that Jesus 
wanted first of all his own self-surrender to the 
divine purposes and his own personal love and 
friendship for the divine Friend, whether that 
was to come through sickness and death or life 
and work. When at last he saw Irene, the light 
of this truth was in his eye. 

♦‘Cyrus,” she said, greeting him with a brave 


THE LIVING PRESENCE 


211 


smile, “you have come to bid me rejoice, and 
make me strong, for, although I cannot read the 
future, I can read your heart.” 

“If you can read my heart, Irene, you know 
better than words can express how I love you.” 

“ Oh, I can read much more in your heart than 
that, Cyrus! I can tell how you love the Lord 
Christ and all his disciples, for if we love him we 
love the brethren also. I do not need special 
powers to tell how you love me, for you said so in 
as many words, you silly boy ; but I have won- 
dered for some little time if you love me better 
than you love the Lord Jesus.” The simplicity 
and directness of the words gave new meaning to 
the struggle through which Cyrus had just passed. 

“Irene, you wring my heart. Why must I 
choose between you and the Lord? Surely I can 
love you both ! ” 

“ Yes, Cyrus, you surely can ; but if the Lord 
has one design for my life and you have another, 
and they clash, whose purpose ought to prevail ? 
If you are angry and unbelieving because you 
cannot have your way, then you love me better 
than you love our Lord ! ” 

“ Irene, if you loved mo. could you speak in 
this way about the destruction of all my hopes? ” 
“It is because I love you that I speak so. I can 
see no separation where both love the same undy- 
ing Lord ; he is in our hearts whether our plan of 
life is granted or withheld. It makes no real dif- 


212 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


ference to me or you whether we live or die, for 
we are the Lord’s.” 

Cyrus looked at the girl. He had always 
thought her spiritual vision wonderful, but never 
more so than now. There was none of the old 
straining for effect, none of the old uncertainty. 
She spoke as a child speaks about a parent’s un- 
questioned affection, as one who describes not 
what one is told but what one sees and feels. 

“But, Irene, is death nothing? How can we 
tell what is yonder, and how can we love when we 
do not see the object of our love ? ” 

“ Cyrus, dear, I cannot tell what death is, be- 
cause I do not think of my passing as death. I 
can only say, I am with Jesus now; I shall be 
with him yonder where he is. I do not see how it 
can make any real difference, since I am with him 
in either case just the same. And are you not 
with Jesus, too? How then does it really mat- 
ter, since both in life and in death we are the 
Lord’s?” 

“But what will become of all my plans of life 
without you, Irene ? I had hoped to go back to 
Ephesus again. The Lord Jesus put it into my 
heart when I first knew him to do something for 
my brethren of the magicians’ craft, and I cannot 
think that this feeling was mistaken.” 

“ I believe, dear Cyrus, it was a true leading of 
the Spirit. I longed for such a service myself. I 
should have been proud to stand by your side in 


THE LIVING PRESENCE 


213 


it, but it is apparent^ not the will of our loving 
Saviour to grant it.” 

“ Irene, I thought I could give you up before I 
came in, but I cannot. I do n’t understand why 
our plans should be set aside. If they were right 
once they are right still. Who can understand me 
so well as my old companion? How I think of 
those days when we first saw the games, and the 
procession of the Artemesion ! How proud we 
were to be part of that pomp and delusion! Now 
I should like to stand amid the old scenes and in 
the old places and speak words of truth instead 
of the old deceit, and bring the light of Jesus 
into them. Who should stand by me but you, 
Irene? Who could help me in this work but 
you?” 

The girl felt the mystery of their lot as much as 
Cyrus. She did not try to explain. Some things 
in life cannot be explained away; they have to be 
loved into light by the power of a great affection. 
She was leaning upon his arm ; she looked up into 
his face. 

“ Cyrus, what can change the fact that we have 
known and loved each other in this new life? If 
we should go to Ephesus together and do this 
work, it would bring us new joy, no doubt, but it 
could not make us dearer to each other or to 
Jesus. I am as close of kin to your soul as ever I 
can be ; I am as near to the life of the Master. 
Death and change cannot alter that. This to me 


214 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


is the difference between the old life and the new. 
Then we were tortured by unsatisfied desires, now 
our hearts are full — there is light and there is 
love.” 

The words and manner were addressed to his 
heart rather than to his head. He was convinced 
of the depth and tenderness of Irene’s affection 
for himself. He felt also that the presence of that 
other love had made it possible for her to renounce 
all the bright visions of youth and life at her 
Lord’s call. 

“ Irene, you must teach me the secret of your 
peace or I shall lose my own faith. Is it some- 
thing that only such sensitive spiritual natures as 
yours can know, or may we all possess it ? ” 

“ I have no secret, Cyrus ; I simply walk with 
Jesus as he walked with Mary and John when on 
earth. His life is my life, his love is my love, his 
plans are my plans. I have never known it other- 
wise. From the first I felt his presence in my life. 
I never thought of him as absent from us but as 
always with us. I never thought of him as dead, 
and I cannot think of myself as dead. ‘Because I 
live ye shall live also,’ is not a promise for the fu- 
ture, but it is in my heart the assurance of my 
life. How then, dear Cyrus, can it make any dif- 
ference whether I get well and go to Ephesus, or 
fall asleep and be with Jesus?” 

The simplicity and reality of her faith Cyrus 
could not deny, but it was all so entirely contrary 


T&E LIVING PRESENCE 


215 


to bis former notions of death and parting, that he 
could not grasp it fully. 

44 Then, Irene,” he said, 44 you will still follow 
me in spirit, and know me in my work and help 
me in it?” 

44 1 shall do more than that, Cyrus. I shall still 
love you, for love is deathless. I know I shall 
love you just as Jesus loves me, for neither death 
nor life can separate us from the love of God that 
is in Jesus our Lord. I shall be more fully in 
your purposes than if present in the body. Oh, 
I know it ! Those old memories can never die, 
and when you see the young maidens in the pro- 
cession of the Artemesia you will long to tell 
them of the love of Jesus for my sake, and tell 
them how much he did for one poor deluded 
maid.” 

Cyrus was wondering in his own mind if such 
a sense of the reality of Christ’s presence would 
ever come into his life. He began to long for it. 
He saw that this was the only secret of Irene’s 
victory and he felt that such an experience would 
bring him closer to her life. But again came the 
thought of the future without her keen insight, 
her sweet sympathy, her kindly offices. How 
would it be possible to live ? 

Antigone was really the first to reconcile Cyrus 
to the inevitable. He was struck with the way 
her mother regarded the hopeless illness of her 
child. Cyrus felt that her trial was greater than 


216 CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 

his, greater than Irene’s own. She was as it were 
twice robbed. She had lost her daughter’s young 
love and after the long agony of waiting and 
searching had found her only, it seemed, to lose 
her finally in death. But Antigone never once 
so regarded it. 

“ It was at first a deep pang to see the hand of 
early decay on my loved one’s cheek,” she said 
one day in answer to Cyrus, “ but I had received 
her back in the Lord, and I really never thought 
of her again as separated from him. Irene came 
back to me a sister in Christ. This manner of 
coming seemed to make up to me for the loss of 
the years of her childhood. My own new life and 
hers were inseparable from Christ, and her illness 
does not part us from him, but rather brings us 
nearer.” 

Cyrus noticed that in Irene’s presence Antigone 
was cheerful and even gay. She never showed 
that wistful, yearning look which first attracted 
him when she came to the old Hall of Magic. 
The hunger of her heart was more than satisfied 
and she blossomed out into a new life of pleasure, 
at which, sometimes, even she herself was sur- 
prised. 


CHAPTER XVII 


IN THE LIGHT 

Irene’s sickness, instead of casting a gloom 
over the house and bringing a hopeless misery 
into the hearts of her loved ones, gave a strange 
sanctity and sweetness to their intercourse. This 
spirit was largely owing to Irene’s own serene 
courage. She made no effort to be cheerful, she 
simply did not feel any sadness at the approach 
of death. If one might have read her thoughts 
in those days it would have been found that the 
word death never entered her mind. She was so 
fully alive in Christ that the idea of death had no 
place in her thoughts. She would talk about 
Cyrus’ future and describe the kind of work that 
he might do so vividly that on one occasion Cyrus 
was overcome and left the room. 

“ Irene, dear,” said her mother, “ you forget that 
we cannot think of all these things without wish- 
ing you among us.” 

“ Well, mother, and shall I not be with you in 
spirit just as I am to-day ? I cannot go out with 
Rhoda to her poor sick people, but Rhoda tells 
me she often feels that I am really present with 
her. Will it not be just so, even when I -am 
with Jesus? I sometimes think I shall be able 
217 


218 


GYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


to do more for you then than now. Do n’t you 
think, mother, I shall know your hearts better 
and see how all your plans will be carried out?” 

Antigone wondered how much of the old spirit 
of the oracle underlay these words and how much 
of them belonged to the power of the deathless 
love of the disciple of Jesus. 

“ You must tell Cyrus, mother dear, that he 
cannot get rid of me so easily as he thinks. He 
must take me with him in thought, at least, and 
reckon with me in the progress of his work.” 

There was a playfulness in the words that re- 
vealed to Antigone the entire absence of all self- 
pity on Irene’s part. She evidently did not regard 
herself as a martyr. Death was vanquished, not 
by submission to the worst as something she could 
not help, but rather by possession of the best as 
something to be welcomed as a prize. 

Cyrus, after this, came to think of the future in 
the light of Irene’s presence as he did of the pres- 
ence of Jesus, not as a life that he had lost but 
as a life that had entered on his behalf into a 
larger sphere of knowledge and usefulness. An- 
tigone also caught this habit of thought, and, be- 
fore the end came, the deathless beauty of the 
flowers of heaven had blossomed in her heart. 

But it was not till Irene spoke to Rhoda alone 
one morning, as the closing scene approached, that 
the little household came into full knowledge of 
her wonderful nature. Rhoda’s heart was well- 


IN THE LIGHT 


219 


nigh bursting, and her eyes were red with weep- 
ing, but the calm look and quiet word of Irene 
restored her to self-possession. 

“ You must be very still, and have all your wits 
about you, Rlioda dear, for I am going to tell you 
the secret of my life, and you must promise to do 
whatever I bid you/’ 

Rhoda made this large promise without a mo- 
ment’s hesitation, little dreaming how much it 
affected her own fate. 

“ It was after the injury I suffered from Simon’s 
creatures at Damascus,” continued Irene, “that I 
first thought it possible I should not live ; but I 
do n’t think that is the true cause of my illness, 
Rhoda. My spirit was wounded unto death long 
before my body was hurt. Jesus has saved me. 
I am his, he is mine ; but there are some things 
in the past that make it impossible I should ever 
be the servant of his gospel in this world.” 

Rhoda could hardly believe her ears ; she al- 
most forgot Irene’s weakness. “But there is no 
sin too black for his cleansing blood, Irene dear,” 
she protested. “ He cleanses the soul and heals 
every wound of the spirit. How, then, can your 
spirit be wounded unto death? We are saved 
body, soul and spirit, not in part.” 

“ It is true, Rhoda, and I rejoice in it, but it is 
different in the matter of service. David, the 
man of blood, could not build a house to the 
Lord. Irene, the oracle of the evil spirits, was 


220 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


not called to be the messenger of the gospel of 
light and purity.” 

She lay and rested for a space. There was no 
resentment in her voice nor in her eye. She 
simply stated her belief as a fact, and accepted it. 
She did not appear to regard her exclusion from 
service as a punishment, for her words following 
were full of joy. 

“ I do not regret this, Rhoda, for I have some- 
times thought that if I had gone to Ephesus with 
Cyrus I might have trusted in my prophetic 
powers to magnify the gospel. I do not feel that 
I was to blame for what I saw and spake concern- 
ing the gods, for I did it ignorantly, but it maimed 
my spirit and the scars remain . J esus has given me 
a better service, I think. Rhoda, dear, you will 
not think me vain if I say that I think the Lord 
has made me a messenger of the living presence . I 
have known so much of the mystery of the un- 
seen world that it is easy for me to walk- with 
Jesus as with a personal Friend. This is natural 
for me. I cannot think of Jesus otherwise than 
as a living Saviour. I never knew him in the 
flesh, like Mary, yet he is my ever-present Lord. 
I feel I am going to him, as you will go presently 
to my mother in the next room. This is more 
than service in Ephesus. This is the life and 
hope of all souls who have been dwelling hitherto 
in the bondage of separation and of death.” 

It was some time before the dying girl was able 


IN THE LIGHT 


221 


to speak again. Rhoda was alarmed and rose to 
call Antigone, but Irene opened her eyes and said, 
“Do. npt stir, Rhoda, I am able to go on.” She 
hesitated, there was a tender, almost wistful, look 
on her face, but her eye smiled kindly into 
Rhoda’s. 

“ I give my mother and Cyrus into your safe 
keeping, my sister. You are daughter to the one 
already and sister to both, but you must be care- 
ful of them not only for your own love but for my 
sake. You will all go to Ephesus, and you will 
encourage Cyrus in his work. You must not tell 
him of my thoughts concerning my sickness, but 
you will find means to cheer him with the truth 
of a present, living Saviour. And, Rhoda, I am 
to be with you also. Cyrus will find you helpful, 
he will lean upon you, for you have always been 
wise and strong. He will feel the joy of your 
companionship and his heart will be drawn toward 
3^ou. Your love for me will make your love for 
him more holy. I shall see you and smile upon 
you. I shall rejoice in your love, for part of it 
shall be mine. I shall be the bond to the dear old 
past and my name shall be your peace.” 

Rhoda could not utter a word. She dared not 
show her emotion for fear of agitating Irene. She 
proved herself worthy of all this tender confi- 
dence by simply laying her lips on the dear face 
before her, and there the two girls whispered 
words known only to themselves and God. 


222 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


When Antigone came into the room she saw at 
once that some eventful scene had taken place. 
Irene took Rhoda’s hand and placed it in her 
mother’s. 

“ She is your daughter for her own sake and for 
mine now, mother, and I have asked her to care 
for Cyrus and you in my place.” 

Antigone kissed Rhoda, who now sobbed out 
her grief and joy upon the elder woman’s breast. 
In that moment Irene tasted heaven. It was the 
fruition of love and the foretaste of glory. She 
seemed to see Jesus bending over both those pre- 
cious heads in act of blessing their compact of 
friendship and love. 

That same evening, as the three were sitting 
watching Irene’s gentle breathing, she opened her 
eyes suddenly. Cyrus was holding her hand, and 
Antigone sat at the foot of her couch. She 
caught the glance of recognition and farewell 
which Irene gave her, and then all three saw the 
face of the girl shine as with an inner light. They 
bent forward, but her eyes never opened again. 
Only one word, heard plainly by all, broke the 
stillness. It was “Jesus ! ” as if spoken in recogni- 
tion of a friend one meets after a short parting. 
As the word passed her lips she fell asleep, and' 
the hushed watchers felt the presence of the Son 
of man. 

Antigone presently lifted her eyes from the be- 
loved face, and through the mist of her tears 


IN THE LIGHT 


223 


Cyrus saw the light of a deathless hope. As he 
led her from the room she whispered in his ear, 
“ I now know in full what Jesus is to my life. In 
the old days that would have been the end ; now 
it is bond of my spirit to the endless life.” 

Cyrus tried to respond, but found it hard. All 
he could venture was the suggestion that heaven 
was richer and nearer to both since the one they 
had known and loved was now in its light. 

“Yes, that is truly my thought,” eagerly replied 
Antigone. “ It is no longer a distant and an un- 
familiar place, but my child’s home and mine, 
warm with the presence of the Christ.” 

In the after time when the new duties of the 
gospel brought Antigone and Cyrus into contact 
with stricken hearts, he noticed that she never 
spoke of the death of Irene as her bereavement, 
but always as her inheritance in heaven. Her 
life was not broken and bereft by this new knowl- 
edge of the will of God but wiser and richer by 
virtue of a. new experience of life. There were 
times, especially when she was alone, when the 
present seemed slightly unreal and she lost the 
old vivid interest in doing things. At those times 
she noticed that she was very close in spirit to 
Irene. What Irene was doing and how soon she 
might hope to see her child again were very real 
and happy thoughts in her mother heart. But 
never once did Cyrus feel the least depression in 
her presence, never once did she impress the new 


224 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


converts with the feeling that she carried a hope- 
less grief and was a believer in heaven because 
she could find no joy on earth. Indeed, the op- 
posite was the fact. 

The old purpose of Cyrus had been carried out. 
Antigone and her family were once more in 
Ephesus. Cyrus and Rhoda came into contact 
with the vilest forms of heathen life in their work 
among the slaves and outcasts and vagabonds and 
sorcerers who came in the wake of the great mul- 
titude to the worship of Diana. These dark, de- 
grading forms of vice often wearied and burdened 
them and they almost despaired of goodness. It 
was Antigone who brought back again to their 
hearts the victorious joy of the Christian faith. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


CYRUS IN A NEW ROLE 

At first, the return of Cyrus to Ephesus had 
attracted no attention. He was but young, and 
he was wise enough to keep himself and his work 
in the dark. He knew that he would do only 
harm by bearding the Megabyzi and priestesses in 
the citadel of their power, so he went to work 
among the strangers at the port end of the city, 
the sailors, vagabond sorcerers and outcasts of his 
own country. Here, too, Rhoda and Antigone 
did much to help him, and they were becoming 
well known in this subterranean life of the great 
Asiatic metropolis. 

A stranger came to the city one day whose 
eloquence and Christian zeal were destined to 
change the character of Cyrus’ work. Apollos, 
the Alexandrian Jew, appeared in the synagogue 
at Ephesus and mightily convinced them that 
Jesus was the Christ. The excitement occasioned 
by the presence of this eloquent exponent of the 
“New Way” attracted Cyrus to the company of 
Christian Jews and he mkde himself known to 
them. His appearance produced hardly less com- 
15 225 


226 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


motion than the preaching of Apollos. The prog- 
ress of the gospel in Ephesus had been hindered 
more by the power of evil magic than by the su- 
perstition of the worship of Diana. It seemed to 
the Christian brethren a direct interposition of 
providence to send them a man versed in all the 
secrets of magic and able to expose its hollow 
shams and essential vileness to the deluded wor- 
shipers. Under the advice of these brethren, 
Cyrus now attended the games of the athletes in 
the Palestrae and performed some of his tricks of 
legerdemain to gather a crowd. What was the 
astonishment of the onlookers, when at the close 
of the performance, he refused to sell a tall fellow 
the “ Ephesian Letters,” saying, “ These tilings are 
no assurance of victory, but a refuge of lies.” 
Then he preached to them Jesus and the prize of 
eternal life through faith in him. At first the 
strange conduct of the new magician passed off 
without opposition, but wind of it came to the 
magicians in attendance at the worship of Diana 
and they decided to put a stop to the new heresy. 
In the great gymnasium close beside the city port, 
Cyrus stood with a large crowd of idlers, athletes 
and sailors looking on with open mouth at the 
wonderful things that he did, but with a dark 
misgiving that, since many of those exposed tricks 
were part of the regular magical service of the 
temple, there must be something unfriendly to the 
worship of Diana in the whole show. 


CYRUS IN A NEW ROLE 


227 


At this moment an angry voice shouted, “ This 
fellow is an apostate from the magician’s craft and 
an enemy of the great Diana.” 

The crowd parted to let the owner of this voice 
into the center. Cyrus eyed his opponent, and 
measured his ability. He saw at a glance that he 
was an apostate Jew, one of the strolling exor- 
cists. Cyrus was no longer the timid youth who 
trembled in the presence of Simon. Since his 
early experiences in the Hall of Magic he had 
seen the spirit of that great magician cowed and 
whipped by a greater spiritual power, and he him- 
self had felt the power of the resurrection life of 
Jesus. 

“ Whether I be an apostate or no,” said Cyrus, 
“ one thing I can tell, and I challenge this apostate 
Jew to answer me. What is the origin, the mean- 
ing, and where is the present shrine of the three- 
fold glory of Diana? ” 

The challenge of Cyrus was a fair one. As a 
Median- Greek he knew the origin of the Ephesian 
Letters, and as a master magician he knew their 
meaning, but he had secret personal knowledge 
of the fact that they were engraved in mystic 
monogram on the crown, the girdle, and the feet 
of the statue of the goddess in the inner sanctuary 
of the temple. He had seen them there in his 
former privileged visits with the Megabyzus. He 
had penetration enough to see that the Jewish 
exorcist was making a bid for popularity and had 


228 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


no knowledge of magic and the temple of Diana 
to compare with his own. 

The expression of blank astonishment which 
covered the face of the sorcerer at Cyrus’ chal- 
lenge set the crowd in a roar of laughter and re- 
stored their good humor. They forgot for the 
moment that Cyrus might be an enemy of the 
goddess, for nothing so pleases a crowd of idlers 
as the discomfiture of a boaster. 

Cyrus turned to the crowd and said, “ The three- 
fold glory of Diana is her claim to our service, 
our love, and obedience. The feet mean service, 
the heart means love and the brow means obe- 
dience or power. The sacred ‘ Letters of Ephesus ’ 
are written on her feet, her girdle, and her crown. 
Their origin is in the arcanum of Median magic, 
but as this Jew knows nothing of the language of 
that ancient craft it would be wisdom thrown 
away to speak it to him.” 

The words of Cyrus produced a profound im- 
pression. He still had the laugh on the self-con- 
stituted champion of Diana, and yet he showed a 
knowledge of the temple secrets that awed and 
astonished the people. The fellow slunk away 
abashed, and Cyrus, bolder than ever, declared 
that they were no gods which were made by hands, 
and that the only God worthy of the service and 
love and obedience of man was the Creator and 
Preserver of all life, who had revealed himself 
in Jesus. 


CYRUS IN A NEW ROLE 


229 


Many of those who saw and heard Cyrus fol- 
lowed him to his residence, and among them were 
many Greek magicians as well as athletes and 
merchants. From this time the house of Antigone 
became the meeting-place of the followers of the 
“New Way” who were not attracted by Jewish 
nationality to the house of Justus. 

While the work of Cyrus was thus gaining 
ground among the frequenters of the forum and 
the gymnasia, Antigone and Rhoda had been ac- 
tively employed among the poor girls whose cruel 
fate had brought them to this Vanity Fair of cor- 
ruption and misery. There was no difficulty in 
finding plenty of poor outcasts among the dancing 
girls and attendants at the temple, for, however 
gorgeous and happy they appeared at the festival 
of the Artemesion, they were soon without char- 
acter or lioriie in the maelstrom of the richest, 
most superstitious, and wickedest city in all Asia. 

In those days the spirit of Irene was ever pres- 
ent with Antigone and Rhoda. They had often 
astonished poor friendless girls in the warmth of 
a sisterly embrace by calling them Irene. The 
words of Jesus were often quite unconsciously 
transposed by them to the life of Irene. “Inas- 
much as ye did it unto the least of these my sis- 
ters ye did it unto me.” At these times heaven 
and the translated sister were very near and very 
real. 


CHAPTER XIX 


THE STRUGGLE OF THE GIANTS 

Such was the state of affairs in the metropolis 
of Asia when the advent of the apostle Paul 
brought events to a head. None knew better than 
Cyrus the courage and penetration displayed by 
this great man as he proceeded at once to attack 
the vile superstitions of the worship of Diana. 
At first the apostle went to the synagogue, where 
his new doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit, and 
the gift of tongues which followed, roused a spirit 
of opposition among the unbelieving Jews. Driven 
out from thence, he took refuge in the school of 
the rhetorician Tyrannus, where his bold, spiritual 
teaching attracted the attention of the Asiarchs. 
These men, chiefs of the provinces of Asia, who 
had been appointed by their cities as delegates to 
the games, had become friendly to the “New 
Way ” and thereby gained the gospel many strong 
friends and great influence. The name of Jesus 
was now a word to charm by. The strolling ex- 
orcist Jews saw with bitter despair that the old 
magic of the Kabbalah had no power since Paul 
had been preaching in this new name. The city 
was in commotion also over the miracles which 
230 


THE STRUGGLE OF THE GIANTS 


231 


Paul was working. The believers carried from 
his body handkerchiefs and aprons wherewith to 
touch the sick, and the diseases departed from 
them and the evil spirits went out. The guild of 
the magicians was confounded; they had never 
seen magic performed after this sort. If some- 
thing could not be done by which the powerful 
name of Jesus could be allied to their craft, their 
occupation would be gone. 

During one of the high days of the Artemesion, 
when the Ionians had come up to Ephesus in vast 
numbers with their wives and children to witness 
the gymnastic and musical contests, and to enjoy 
the magical displays, Myron the Asiarch, one of 
the friends of Paul, was presiding. He had spent 
a very large sum in the preparation for this festi- 
val and was seated in the place of honor, robed in 
the presidential mantle of purple and crowned 
with garlands. He had invited Paul and his com- 
panions, among whom were Cyrus, to seats of 
honor, and in the great gymnasium of Ephesus 
the apostle witnessed many of those games the 
rules of which he so effectively used to illustrate 
his preaching. All went well until the magicians 
were ushered upon the scene. One of them, see- 
ing who sat beside the president of the games, re- 
fused to proceed with his tricks, covering his own 
confusion by the assertion that the enemies of the 
goddess were present, and no successful incanta- 
tions could be performed. Paul then turned to 


232 


CYRUS THE 3IAGICIAN 


Myron and said that some even of his own com- 
pany were well acquainted with the tricks of the 
magicians and could show how they were done. 

Cyrus, thus singled out, stepped down among 
his old fellow-craftsmen and performed, to the de- 
light and astonishment of all, some of the most 
rare and difficult feats of magic. 

The confident way in which Paul bore himself 
and the simple action of Cyrus greatly impressed 
the mind of Myron. He thought, “ This man is 
not afraid of the powers of evil, and even the ' 
converts know more of the science of magic than 
the magicians themselves.” 

The incident became widely known and caused 
much talk in the inner circle of the magicians. 
The seven renegade sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief 
priest, sought to win fortune and power for them- 
selves by using the name of Jesus in their exor- 
cisms. Two of these brothers were so acting, 
when a man possessed by a violent spirit, whom 
no one could tame, was brought to them. His 
fierce glance and bloodshot eyes struck terror to 
their hearts, but, remembering the success of 
Paul, one of them dared to rise and sa}^, “I ad- 
jure you by Jesus, whom Paul preacheth, come 
out of him, thou evil spirit ! ” The rash experi- 
ment proved a thunderbolt that fell upon the ex- 
orcists’ own heads. The evil spirit answered and 
said, “ Jesus I know, and Paul I know ; but who 
are ye?” Saying this, quick as lightning the 


THE STRUGGLE OF THE GIANTS 


233 


mail in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them 
and mastered them both, so that they fled out of 
the house half-naked and wounded. The news of 
this incident spread like wildfire in the city, and, 
joined with the work of Cyrus among the magi- 
cians, produced a great turning of the hearts of 
men to the gospel. 

One evening, while this excitement was at its 
height, Cyrus, on returning home, found Antigone 
and Rhoda talking over the events of the day. 
Antigone welcomed Cyrus with a glad light in 
her eye and outstretched arms. 

“ Cyrus, my son, we have joyful news to tell 
you to-night. Two of the Melissse have sought 
the shelter of our home and renounced the wor- 
ship of Diana. Rhoda and I have long been 
praying and working for this, and it has come at 
last. When Rhoda told them Irene’s story they 
felt at home with us at once. These are the first- 
fruits of Irene’s spirit love, and the assurance of 
the Master’s presence with us.” 

“Your news is good, mother ; but it will be 
better still when you hear what is happening in 
the larger world. The wrath of the maniac has 
revealed more than the blasphemy of the sons of 
Sceva. It seems that many of the converts have 
been practising their magical arts in secret, but 
this punishment of the exorcists has revealed to 
them, as nothing else could, the wrath of God 
against all black magic. Several of them came 


234 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


and confessed their deeds and brought their Ephe- 
sian Letters and laid them at the apostle’s feet. 
We are to meet again to-morrow, and many of the 
magicians who have held high places in the service 
of Diana have promised me to come and confess 
the great Name in the presence of Paul and the 
Asiarchs.” 


CHAPTER XX 


rhoda’s reward 

Rhoda listened to this recital of success with 
the quiet modesty of one who has done much 
service, but who says little. Was she fated to 
work in obscurity and get no recognition ? She 
had the deep satisfaction of seeing the beings she 
loved most on earth filled with joy over their 
good work. She had a secret communion also 
with the spirit of her dear sister, whose inspiring 
presence she had felt from the first moment they 
had landed in Ephesus and taken up the work for 
which Irene had poured out her soul. Antigone, 
looking round at the moment, saw the sweet, soft 
light upon Rhoda’s face. She had always loved 
the girl — she was so wholesome, unselfish and pa- 
tient. Her glance of admiration drew Cyrus’ at- 
tention to Rhoda, and as the intense gaze of these 
four kind eyes fell upon her, she looked up, as if 
they had spoken their warm admiration. A deep 
blush overspread her face and neck, and she arose 
in some confusion as if to go. 

Antigone caught the girl in her arms. “ You 
shall not go, dear Rhoda,” she said. “ Our eyes 
express less than our hearts feel for you, and it is 
235 


236 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


time you should know it. No time could be bet- 
ter to tell you than on the day we first reap the 
fruits of Irene’s prayers.” 

Rhoda hid her face in the folds of Antigone’s 
mantle, and tried to say something, but the kind, 
warm pressure of her loving mother’s arms was 
unfavorable to speech. 

The incident passed so swiftly that Cyrus had 
not time to feel awkward. Indeed, he never 
seemed so manly and self-possessed in Antigone’s 
eyes as when she looked up from Rlioda’s face 
and, pushing the girl from her, said: 

“ I am far too selfish, Rhoda. Cyrus has a part 
to play in this affair, for he told me yesterday you 
were the wisest, kindest, and most unselfish girl 
in all the world. Ask him if he meant it all or 
was only trying to earn the favor of an old lady 
by praising the one she loves best.” 

Rhoda and Cyrus both broke out in protest, but 
Antigone, laughing at their confusion, left the 
room, saying, “ Settle it between yourselves, my 
children. Whatever you agree upon I will ac- 
cept.” 

The blush had not left Rhoda’s face, or at least 
it had returned, for the praise of Antigone looked 
like a pre-concerted scheme. A slight glance of 
deprecation in her eye, lest Cyrus should feel the 
situation forced upon him, gave an unwonted 
tenderness to her expression. It made her look 
trustful as well as radiant. Cyrus bent forward, 


EHODA'S EE WARD 


237 


a little sobered, but with a friendly warmth that 
well became their intimacy. 

“ Rlioda, it is all true, and the half has not been 
told. You have been the sweetness and joy of our 
life since Irene went home, and to-night I know 
she smiles approval on the warm words of An- 
tigone.” 

The reference to Irene did not offend Rhoda, 
even in this hour that might otherwise have been 
thought sacredly her own. It brought vividly 
back the tender memory of the parting scene, 
when Irene surrendered Cyrus to her sister’s love. 
The slight hesitation on Rhoda’s part to respond 
to Cyrus was not due to want of affection, for 
she long had loved him, but to a feeling of rever- 
ence for the old bonds. It touched Cyrus, for he 
thought that perhaps this loyal heart had not been 
loved enough for her own sake. 

There was a warmth and force in his tone that 
roused Rhoda, as he said, “You are our house- 
bond, Rhoda, and the light of our hearts. I love 
you dearly, truest and best, and no future joy or 
service serins possible without you.” 

The generous girl was touched with these words 
of genuine appreciation, for they were a proof 
that her worth was recognized and that she was 
truly loved for her own sake. She had been ac- 
customed so long to think of others that the first 
warm rush of a great flood of love toward herself, 
and as her very own, entirely overcame her. 


238 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


She spoke no word, but Cyrus seemed to know, 
and gathered the loyal, loving girl in his arms. 

The joy of Antigone when she returned was 
something wonderful. The house seemed filled 
as with light and a fragrant incense. All felt it 
was the beginning of a new life for both Rhoda 
and Cyrus, not only in their own affections but in 
the future opening up before them in the work of 
the gospel. 







Amy Brodks . 




mm 


■ 


BURNING THE BOOKS OF MAGIC 











CHAPTER XXI 


THE HOLOCAUST OF MAGIC 

The great interests of life do not pause even 
for lovers’ joys, and the next day Cyrus found 
himself in the presence of the apostle and breth- 
ren telling of his work among the magicians that 
was likely to lead to events of the greatest im- 
portance to the gospel in Asia. It was necessary 
for the full effect of the change of life among the 
sorcerers and magicians that the confession of 
these men should be as public as possible, but 
some fear was expressed lest the Megabyzi and 
officers of the city should attempt to prevent this. 
It was hoped, however, that the influence of the 
Asiarchs might be exerted on behalf of fair play 
and freedom of opinion, as there was no direct 
attack being made upon the customs of the Ephe- 
sians. 

At this point Gaius came into the room in haste, 
and said that a company without were asking ad- 
mission. “ It is the magicians,” said Cyrus, and 
they were forthwith admitted. 

The boldness and enthusiasm of the men carried 
all before it. They had brought with them their 
books of magic of great price, declaring that since 
239 


240 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


they had so long been deceived themselves by the 
dark deceits within they gladly surrendered them 
to be burned. 

“It is manifestly the voice of God, by the 
mouth of the brethren,” said Paul, “ and we will 
take counsel of our courage and faith. Let us 
gather the brethren to-morrow at the great agora 
and commit these works of darkness to the 
flames.” 

Every one present felt the risk of such a bold 
proceeding, none more than Cyrus, who had seen 
Ephesus and the Artemesian procession in all 
its pomp and power. But there was a strength 
and conviction about the words of Paul that in- 
spired every heart like the sound of a trumpet 
in battle. All felt that it was a defiance to the 
powers of darkness carrying the fate of the gospel 
in its course. 

Next day the merchants and artisans of the 
agora were startled by the unusual sight of a 
great company, many of whom were recognized as 
well-known magicians, carrying their apparatus 
and books, gathering round a cleared space where 
a fire had been kindled. Soon a curious crowd of 
soldiers, athletes, and citizens had collected and 
were gazing in open-mouthed wonder at this 
strange proceeding. The wonder increased to 
amazement and fear as they saw these men cast 
their books into the flames. 

“ Where now shall we buy the Letters of Vic- 


THE HOLOCAUST OF MAGIC 


241 


tory ? ” said a great, hulking fellow, who looked as 
if he would rather win by magic than skill. 

“You must practise more and drink less, my 
Ajax, if you would carry away the prize after 
this,” replied his companion. 

“ This is treason to the great Diana,” muttered 
a silversmith, who had foresight enough to see 
that those who did not believe in magic would 
soon cease to believe in idols. 

But the enthusiasm of the followers of the 
“ New Way ” was so great that it ran by a sort of 
contagion among the people. Some could remem- 
ber the deceit and exactions of the magicians, and 
they thought it was a good riddance of oppress- 
ors. 

The light from the burning books was reflected 
in the keen, dark eyes of the apostle. His fol- 
lowers had never seen but once before that same 
glance of triumph. Here he did not speak much ; 
it seemed to flash from his eyes as he saw the 
vision of the future, which this scene prefigured. 
Was it possible that to his inspired vision the 
pride of Ephesus and the glory of Asia, rising 
yonder behind Coressus, in all its magnificence, 
was seen in the desolation of ages, its proud crest 
humbled, its idol stolen and its worship a re- 
proach and shame ? 

To Cyrus the scene was the consummation of a 
long, cherished purpose, the promise of a greater 
day to come. He saw the proud spirit of Simon 
16 


242 


CYRUS THE MAGICIAN 


withering in the flames as the parchments of magic 
crackled and hissed on the burning pile. He had 
brought with him the pentagram and tripod and 
Kabbalah and had cast them with the others in 
the mass of hateful rubbish. He now stepped 
forward with a feeling of awe in his own mind — 
few knew all that it meant to him — and cast his 
magic wand upon the pyre with a silent prayer. 

The apostle saw Cyrus and noticed the look of 
awe upon his face. “ It is well, my son. Hence- 
forth we shall not use the accursed stuff even in 
the furtherance of truth. It shall be your glory 
to speak of the gospel of our Lord Jesus in the 
power of the Holy Spirit alone.” 

Cyrus looked up into the great man’s face, and 
saw the glance of a spirit more commanding than 
even Simon’s, but with a sanity in his eyes and a 
tenderness in his words that Simon never pos- 
sessed. He felt that there was no shame in sub- 
mitting his mind to the guidance of such a leader, 
and he bowed his head in token of submission as 
the apostle said, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” 

There was great joy in the meetings of the dis- 
ciples when they gathered that day for prayer and 
thanksgiving, and the word of God grew mightily 
and prevailed. While the season of joy lasted, 
Antigone sought Paul’s kind offices on behalf of 
Cyrus and Rhoda. She had told the apostle the 
story of her life, and he was deeply interested in 
the wonderful way God had bound those two 


THE HOLOCAUST OF MAGIC 


243 


young hearts together in a common love and com- 
mon service for the gospel. He gladly promised 
to bless their marriage, and so it came about that 
the company of the disciples of Jesus, led by his 
apostle, showered their blessings on the heads of 
Rhoda and Cyrus when they were united in the 
Lord. 

But in their own hearts these two had very 
tender memories of days that seemed to belong to 
another life — to days which could not be for- 
gotten — that made the present joy inexpressibly 
holy. In this supreme hour of Christian gladness 
and hope they felt, as they had never done before, 
the meaning of Irene’s mission and the reality of 
the living presence of Jesus. And when, in after 
days, the disturbances in Ephesus drove them out 
to service in other cities, Cyrus had in Rhoda not 
only a wise helper but a tender, loving soul that 
lived near to the deathless Christ in the simple 
realities of life, and the heavenly vision came in 
the future much oftener to him in the sweet do- 
mestic joys of the home. 

Rhoda said to Cyrus once, “I can see more 
magic power in the name of lover and husband 
than in all the mystery of the Kabbalah.” 

“ It is not much wonder, Rhoda, that it should 
be so, for the ‘Supreme Word’ of the spirit-life 
has come into our hearts and home — the name of 
the living Christ of God.” 

























